theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_255

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether anyone in receipt of Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity benefits will receive reduced levels of payments following the reforms announced in her Oral Ministerial Statement on 18 March 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: To address the fundamental imbalance between the health top up and standard allowance of UC, we will legislate to take a decisive step to reset payment rates in UC over this Parliament, starting from April 2026.

For people who already receive the UC health element the rate of the UC health element will be frozen until 2029/2030 but this group will receive an increased UC entitlement in cash terms as a result of the increased standard allowance.

We will lower the rate of UC health for new claims from April 2026 – alongside increasing the standard allowance – to reduce the incentive to define yourself as unfit to work, while still providing a higher rate of benefit for disabled people and those with health conditions with extra costs.

For those receiving the new reduced UC health element after April 2026, we are proposing that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who have no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work, will see their incomes protected through an additional premium.
wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_256
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of tightening the eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment on the ability of disabled people to afford their costs. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a contribution to the extra costs of being disabled. We have set out plans to introduce a new eligibility requirement in PIP so that people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity in PIP to be eligible for the daily living component.

We are mindful of the impact of this change, as such, in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we are consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

Information on the impacts of tightening the eligibility criteria will be published in due course. A further programme of analysis to support development of the measure will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_257

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment for (a) carers and (b) children. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have set out plans to introduce a new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) so that people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity in PIP to be eligible for the daily living component.

PIP is open to new claims from the age of 16 and over. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we consult on whether this age should be raised to 18 or higher. The changes do not therefore apply to children. The PIP eligibility criteria apply directly to people with long-term health conditions and disabilities.
wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_258
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_258

Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was for a Personal Independence Payment reassessment after a claimant has reported improved health in the latest period for which data is available. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

PIP clearance times for New Claims and Reassessments can be found in the latest Personal Independence Payment statistics to January 2025 - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_259
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_259

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people aged between 16 and 18 were in receipt of Universal Credit on 18 March 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Monthly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit in Great Britain are published regularly on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides provisional figures for the ‘count date’ of 13 February 2025 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’. The next release with provisional figures for the count date of 13 March 2025 is scheduled for release on 15 April 2025 at 09:30am.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_260

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Tribunals statistics quarterly; October to December 2024 report, published 13 March 2025, if he will make an assessment of trends in the number of PIP appeals overturned in favour of the claimant. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The PIP appeal overturn rate is 67%. It has remained stable around this rate since the second quarter of 2021/22.

For initial decisions between October 2019 and September 2024 (the latest 5-year period), 3.3 million initial decisions following a PIP assessment have been made and, by December 2024, 4% have been cleared at tribunal hearing and 3% have been overturned at a tribunal hearing.

It is our aim to make the right decision as early as possible in the claim journey. To support this, we have made improvements to our decision-making processes to help ensure people get the support they are entitled to without needing to appeal. This includes giving Decision Makers additional time to proactively contact customers if they think additional evidence may support the claim.

We recognise that the overturn rate at appeal is high. This is why we are continuing to learn from appeal outcomes. We regularly gather feedback on appeals from Presenting Officers who attend tribunals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_261

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people under the age of 25 are receiving Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Monthly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit in Great Britain are published regularly on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides provisional figures for the ‘count date’ of 13 February 2025 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’. The next release with provisional figures for the count date of 13 March 2025 is scheduled for release on 15 April 2025 at 09:30am.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_262

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason there is an age differential between the national living wage age band and the lower universal credit band. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Young people in work typically earn less than those over 25 and are also more likely to live in someone else’s household, with lower living costs.

It is not inconsistent to maintain different rates of Universal Credit while moving to a single rate of the National Living Wage. Even with the rise of the minimum wage, younger workers will still, in general, earn less.

The lower rate of Universal Credit maintains an incentive to work as we continue to support young people into employment and to improve their career opportunities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the evidential basis is for the proposition that reducing levels of disability benefits leads to increased levels of employment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have evidence that delivering better and more tailored employment support can get more people off welfare, and into work - alongside a higher expectation to engage with that support.

Therefore, we are investing £1 billion a year by the end of the decade in new employment, health and skills support – one of the biggest packages of new employment support for sick and disabled people ever.

In addition, corrective action is needed after the value of the basic unemployment benefit was run down to a 40-year low, while incapacity benefits continued to rise. Meaning the rate of Universal Credit for those on the health element is now double that for those on the standard allowance. As a result, all the incentives are to claim incapacity benefits and define yourself as incapable of work, with both the OBR and IFS suggesting this has been a factor in driving higher incapacity benefit claims.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who are (a) in receipt of Universal Credit and (b) under the age of 25 are parents. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Monthly statistics for the number of Households on Universal Credit in Great Britain are published quarterly on Stat-Xplore. The latest statistics in table ‘UC Households 1 – month by family type’ provide a monthly breakdown of households on UC by family type up to November 2024.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_265

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a Work Transition Guarantee to help ensure disabled people keep their benefits for a period after they move into work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Building on the support Universal Credit provides disabled people, our Pathways to Work Green Paper launched a consultation on creating a route into work consistent with health conditions or disability, with UC supplementing income. Communication around this will emphasise that engaging with work won’t trigger a reassessment, and that existing linking rules mean if a job ends the previous benefit rate remains.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Iqbal Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments on disabled people in the Dewsbury and Batley constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course with some information published this week alongside the Spring Statement.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will publish an equality impact assessment on reforms set out in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We will publish the equality analysis for measures included in the Spring Statement alongside the Spring Statement, with equality analysis for other reforms, where possible, following shortly after.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Kate Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of treating military compensation for injury in the same way as civil compensation for the purposes of means testing for benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the honourable member to the answer we gave on 3 March 2025 to question UIN 32275.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 7 May 2024 to Question 24202 on Lead: Health and Safety, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the assessment of lead ammunition restrictions by the Health and Safety Executive. \p Sir Stephen Timms: For the period 1 March 2021 to 15 March 2025, HSE’s full economic cost estimate is £700,000. This includes the costs of both HSE and independent scientific experts engaged in this work but excludes work undertaken by the Environment Agency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's green paper Pathways to work: reforming benefits and support to get Britain working, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her proposed policies on the causes of poverty among disabled people. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The latest available statistics show that full-time work substantially reduces the chances of poverty. In 2022/23, working age adults living in families where no adults work were around 6 times more likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs, than working age adults in families where all adults work. And the relative poverty rate (after housing costs) of children in households where both parents work in 2022/23 was 14%, compared to 75% for children living in households where no adults work.

The latest available data shows that in 2022/23, only 6% of children in couple families were in relative poverty after housing costs where both adults work full time, compared to 66% where one or more adults in a couple were in part time work only.

70% of children in lone parent families where the adult did not work were in relative low income after housing costs in 2022/23 compared to 27% of children in working lone parent families.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Defence to encourage young people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance to seek employment in the armed forces. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to working closely alongside the Ministry of Defence to identify and support anyone in receipt of benefits with transferable skills to move into careers within the Armed Forces, with a particular focus on younger customers.

We are also committed to promoting and advertising career opportunities across the Armed Forces at our regular recruitment events, dedicated armed forces recruitment days and through our offer of account managing vacancies.

This allows us to ensure we are signposting customers to the available opportunities within the Armed Forces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_272

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people below the age of 22 are in receipt of the health element of Universal Credit in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Quarterly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability restricting their ability to work in Great Britain are published on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides figures up to December 2024 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’, Westminster Parliamentary Constituency and Local Authority.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.

The UC Health caseload aged under 22 at the mid-point of the current financial year (July 2024) can be combined with the standard monthly Limited capability for work and work-related activity element of £416.19 to derive an estimate for annual expenditure for 24/25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of new Personal Independence Payment claimants who will not achieve a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element after November 2026. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information is intended for publication alongside the Spring Statement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment with her Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the proposals set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper on levels of poor mental health among (a) children aged 17 and under and (b) people aged 18 to 67. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29146 on Department for Work and Pensions: Equality, if she will list (a) each item of expenditure on (i) specific equality and diversity training needs and (ii) external memberships and (b) the titles of any training courses undertaken by her staff in relation to equality and diversity-related training in the 2023-24 financial year. \p Andrew Western: DWP is committed to being an inclusive employer with a workforce that is representative of the communities and customers we serve. To support with these commitments, we have invested a total of £69,198 in supporting our employees with specific equality and diversity related external memberships and training within the 2023-2024 financial year, the breakdown of which is below:

DWP EDI Expenditure Breakdown (including external memberships and accreditations) FY 23/24

a:gender 22/23 funding contribution

£19715

BITC Race Membership

£13000

Employer for Carers membership

£2500

Membership Renewal for PurpleSpace

£950

Renewal of the Business Disability Forum Subscription 2023  2024

£20500

The Social Mobility Foundation Employer Index contribution

£1000

UK VAT - UK VAT

£11533

TOTAL

£69198

In addition, the DWP Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) internal e-learning module is mandatory for all new starters during their induction and aims to increase important knowledge of the PSED legal duties incumbent on colleagues both at an individual level and DWP at a collective level.

All new starters are also required to complete Civil Service Expectations training. This learning helps colleagues understand the behaviours expected of all Civil Servants and summarises the legislation that informs our work, policy and services for citizens. It is mandatory learning for all new Civil Servants at all grades. There are no associated costs for this training.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work Green Paper on the finances of disabled people. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course. The proposals have been carefully designed to protect the finances of severely disabled people.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing disability benefit on the health of people with long term and fluctuating conditions. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course. An important consideration in the case for abolishing the Work Capability Assessment is the inappropriateness of its binary distinction between “capable of work” and “not capable of work” for people with fluctuating health conditions.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_278
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to reform the Personal Independence Payment on (a) adults with (i) ADHD and (ii) autism and (b) other neurodivergent adults. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course. The Government is determined to improve the low current employment rate among neurodivergent adults.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to reform the Personal Independence Payment on (a) disabled parents and (b) parents of disabled children. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course. Many parents of disabled children will welcome the proposed increase from 16 to 18 in the age of transition from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the potential implications of changes to disability benefits on health and social care services. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are investing almost £26 billion of extra funding for the Health and Social Care System so people can get the treatment they need to get back to work instead of being stuck on waiting lists, delivering over 2 million extra appointments 7 months ahead of schedule.

Baroness Louise Casey, a cross-bench peer, has been commissioned to develop options for immediate action to improve adult social care in England before charting a course for longer term reform as announced in January. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will support this review – and work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – as we take forward the proposals in this Green Paper.

In the short term, up to £3.7 billion of additional funding will be made available for social care authorities in 2025/2026, including an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant. To support unpaid carers to combine caring responsibilities with some paid work, from April 2025 the Carers’ Allowance earnings limit will be pegged to 16 hours work at National Living Wage (NLW) levels (rounded to the highest pound), and in future it will increase when the NLW increases. This is an increase from £151 to £196 a week. DHSC are also commissioning research on the link between the adult social care system and PIP.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of losing eligibility for Personal Independence Payment on the financial security of disabled people. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We will be publishing estimated impacts on claimants for the changes announced on 18 March 2025 on the day of the Spring Statement or shortly after.

PIP is an important benefit to help contribute to the extra living costs of a disability or heath condition. We are clear it should neither be means-tested nor taxed. However, support needs to be more targeted to protect this safety net for future generations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity group on disabled people in residential care. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We will be publishing estimated impacts on claimants for the changes announced on 18 March 2025 on the day of the Spring Statement or shortly after.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the cost to the public purse for PIP payments for people with mental health conditions. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 34908 on 10th March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce levels of poverty among children in Ilford South constituency. \p Alison McGovern: The Child Poverty Taskforce continues its urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy and is exploring all available levers across government to deliver an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, as part of a 10-year Strategy for lasting change. The Devolved Governments and Local Authorities are a key part of our approach to learning directly about the experience of poverty in different communities and solutions already underway.

The Strategy will look at four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments.

The Taskforce is listening to experts and campaigners and engaging with families, charities, campaigners and leading organisations across the UK to shape and inform the Strategy.

The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, introduce a Fair Repayment Rate for deductions from Universal Credit, and increase the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour from April to boost the pay of three million workers. To further support struggling households, funding of £742 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 in England, plus additional funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of youth unemployment in (a) Ilford South constituency and (b) London. \p Alison McGovern: The information requested is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp

Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of welfare reform on people with multiple sclerosis. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course with some information published this week alongside the Spring Statement.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) of all ages and (b) under 22 years of age receive the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element of Universal Credit in Wimbledon constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Quarterly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability restricting their ability to work in Great Britain are published on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides figures up to December 2024 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’, Westminster Parliamentary Constituency and Local Authority.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that adequate transition arrangement are put in place to help support people with changes to the levels of benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There will be no immediate changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

For those already on PIP, the changes will only apply at their next award review. The average award review is about three years.

When people are reassessed, they will be reviewed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, and assessed on their individual needs and circumstances.

The personal impact will depend on an individual’s circumstances. We are consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

In regards to Universal Credit (UC), for people who already receive the UC health element the rate of the UC health element will be frozen at £97pw until 2029/2030 but this group will receive an increased UC entitlement in cash terms as a result of the increased standard allowance.

In addition, we will guarantee that no-one who has been found Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA) prior to April 2026 and remains LCWRA following reassessment will see their UC health element entitlement changed. We will ensure that this group do not fear a loss of their benefit rate from working.

For new claims the rate of the UC health element will be reduced by £47pw (from £97pw in 2024/2025 to £50pw in 2026/2027). However, this group will benefit from the higher standard allowance, which will partially offset this reduction.

For those receiving the new reduced UC health element after April 2026, we are proposing that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who have no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work, will see their incomes protected through an additional premium. We will also guarantee that for both new and existing claims, those in this group will not need to be reassessed in future
wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_289
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_289

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that disabled people are adequacy supported through the benefits assessment process. \p Sir Stephen Timms: It is important that all claimants to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are able to access our services and that they do not face obstacles in applying and communicating with the Department and its providers. We have a variety of reasonable adjustments to make the claims process and communications easier for some of our most vulnerable customers.

The process is kept under continual review to ensure it meets the needs of claimants and helps the Department provide an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement. Since PIP was created, the Department has introduced, for example, dial-in-for third parties, a digital PIP 2 questionnaire and evidence upload function, email as a reasonable adjustment and telephone and video assessments in addition to paper-based and face-to-face assessments.

In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we outline plans to improve the experience for people who use the health and disability benefits system, including exploring ways to use evidence from eligibility for other services to reduce the need for some people with very severe conditions to undergo a full PIP functional assessment.

Over the longer term, the Health Transformation Programme is modernising health and disability benefit services to improve the customer experience. The Programme will transform the entire PIP service, introducing an option to apply and track applications online.

We are exploring a case management model - a personalised approach for customers from initial contact through to the end of the application, including signposting to other benefits and services. This approach will help the Programme to better understand our customers, tailor their service, and help to build customer confidence and trust that their case is being progressed appropriately.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_290

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances benefits are paid to foreign nationals. \p Andrew Western: It is the expectation of the Government that, in general, migrants coming to the UK should be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to ‘public funds’ (such as Universal Credit). Access to benefits flows from an individual’s immigration status, which the Home Office grants.

If an individual holds a valid immigration status that also allows them to access public funds benefits (i.e., they do not have a “No Recourse to Public Funds” condition), then they are subject to the same eligibility criteria as any other customer. This usually includes meeting the requirements of the Habitual Residence Test (for income-related benefits), the Past Presence Test (for disability benefits), and / or necessary National Insurance contributions (for contributions-based benefits).

People who are in the UK illegally (i.e. those without immigration status) cannot access DWP public funds benefits. Asylum seekers also cannot access DWP public funds benefits whilst their application is being processed and decided by the Home Office.

People the UK has welcomed as refugees or under special Afghan and Ukraine visa schemes can access benefits as soon as they have been granted their immigration status (provided they meet the other relevant eligibility criteria). This ensures that can access the support they need quickly, given the unusual and difficult circumstances of their arrival.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_291

Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her oral statement on Welfare Reform on 18 March 2025, what proportion of the potential savings to the public purse identified by her Department is related to young people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information is intended for publication at a future date.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_292

Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of her proposed welfare reforms on demand for social care services from people who may lose benefit eligibility. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will support the Casey Commission into adult social care – and work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – as we take forward the proposals in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.

In the short term, up to £3.7 billion of additional funding will be made available for social care authorities in 2025/2026, including an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

For those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, we are consulting on how best to support this group, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_293

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of overlap between the Motability scheme and claimants entitled to free school transport provided by local authorities. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the disability benefits that act as a gateway to the Motability Scheme and facilitates the transfer of eligible benefits to Motability. Whilst an eligible benefit allowance provides access to the Scheme, the recipient can also choose not to join the Scheme, and to spend the allowance however they see fit for their individual circumstances.

We do not hold information that could identify those who may qualify for the Motability Scheme and who are also entitled to free school transport provided by local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_294

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how her Department ensures the adequacy of Motability vehicles for users. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Motability Foundation is independent of government and regulated by the Charity Commission so is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme.

As Motability is independent of government, the management of the scheme rests with them and their respective Boards of Governors. As such, any questions regarding the  adequacy of Motability vehicles should be directed to the Motability scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_295

Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed welfare reforms on poverty levels among (a) disabled people and (b) their families. \p Alison McGovern: As the Secretary of State announced on Tuesday 18th March 2025, the equality and poverty impact analysis will be published alongside the spring statement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_296

Dan Aldridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Road Traffic Act 1991 to include the mandated reporting of cats that are (a) struck and (b) killed by vehicles. \p Lilian Greenwood: There are no plans to amend section 170 of the Road Traffic Act to make it mandatory for drivers to report road collisions involving cats.

Although there is no obligation to report all collisions with animals on roads,Rule 286 of The Highway Code advises drivers to report any collisions involving an animal to the police, and if possible, they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals and advise them of the situation.

Since June 2024, all cats in England over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database, unless exempt or free-living. This will make it easier for National Highways and local authorities to reunite cats with their keepers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_297

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 to require drivers to stop and report accidents involving cats. \p Lilian Greenwood: There are no plans to amend section 170 of the Road Traffic Act to make it mandatory for drivers to report road collisions involving cats.

Although there is no obligation to report all collisions with animals on roads, Rule 286 of The Highway Code advises drivers to report any collisions involving an animal to the police, and if possible, they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals and advise them of the situation.

Since June 2024, all cats in England over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database, unless exempt or free-living. This will make it easier for National Highways and local authorities to reunite cats with their keepers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_298

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to help tackle speeding in (a) Stratford-on-Avon constituency and (b) other rural areas. \p Lilian Greenwood: The traffic authority for this area is Warwickshire County Council, which has the responsibility of making decisions about the roads under its care, based on its knowledge of the area and taking into account local needs and considerations. This includes traffic management and road environment measures as well as setting local speed limits.

Law enforcement, including enforcement of road traffic offences, is an operational matter for local Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables/Commissioners. It is for the police to enforce road traffic legislation and investigate road traffic incidents using their professional judgement. Any general policy within a force is a matter for the force’s Chief Officer, who will decide how to deploy available resources, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_299

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to make a decision on the final business case submitted by Chiltern Railways. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department will continue to work closely with Chiltern Railways to support delivery of its train fleet renewal programme and to finalise the commercial arrangements attached to the rolling stock business case in order to deliver an improved experience for passengers from 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_300

Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential merits of opening a new railway station in St. Clears in Carmarthenshire. \p Simon Lightwood: Future provision of a station at St Clears is subject to ongoing discussion by the UK and Welsh governments within the Wales Rail Board as part of its consideration of future rail investment priorities for Wales.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_301

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made recent progress on setting a date for the second meeting of the Motor Insurance Taskforce. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department will announce a date for the next meeting of the Motor Insurance Taskforce in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_302

Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she make it her policy to introduce a new interest-free loan scheme for taxi drivers purchasing new taxis matched to the retail price of the LEVC TXE. \p Simon Lightwood: As of October 2024, 60% of actively licensed London taxis were zero emission capable (ZEC). The Plug in Taxi Grant (PiTG) has been crucial in supporting taxi drivers to make this transition to ZEC vehicles and decarbonise our roads.

On 25 February 2025, the Government announced that the PITG will be extended into the 2025/26 financial year with a reduced rate of £4,000 per eligible vehicle. The Government does not currently intend to introduce an interest-free loan scheme for taxi drivers.