theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will urge CEOs of relevant Trusts to provide (a) financial and (b) personnel support so that administration of givinostat can begin in weeks. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS independently, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by the NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. The NICE is currently evaluating givinostat, and its Appraisal Committee will meet to consider its recommendations in May 2025.

ITF Pharma UK, the United Kingdom marketing authorisation holder for givinostat, is providing access to givinostat through a type of compassionate use scheme called an Early Access Programme (EAP). NHS England does not have any initiatives to encourage participation in compassionate use schemes, which are the responsibility of individual pharmaceutical companies. Participation in the EAP for givinostat, which must be through one of the 23 NorthStar Centres in the UK, is decided at an individual NHS trust level, although there is general advice that trusts should engage with the relevant commissioner if they choose to participate. A NorthStar Centre will not be able to provide givinostat if its local trust has not approved participation. Under the EAP, givinostat is free to both patients taking part in it and to the NHS, but the trusts must still cover the cost of administering it to patients. Only Duchenne muscular dystrophy clinicians can make requests for givinostat for their patients. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis for individual named patients aligned to eligibility criteria.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of shingles. \p Andrew Gwynne: To increase awareness of the shingles programme and of potential vaccination benefits amongst health professionals and the wider public, the UK Health Security Agency provides a comprehensive suite of public facing resources and assets, including information leaflets in multiple languages and accessible formats, like easy read, British Sign Language, and braille, and also provides guidance for healthcare professionals. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html

In addition, further information on the shingles immunisation programme specifically is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shingles-vaccination-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals/shingles-immunisation-programme-information-for-healthcare-practitioners
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the number of people living in London that have recorded (a) physical and (b) mental illnesses linked to noise pollution. \p Andrew Gwynne: A specific estimate of the number of people living in London that have recorded physical and mental illnesses linked to noise pollution has not been completed.

In 2023, the UK Health Security Agency published the findings from a new study that maps the effects of transport noise on health and wellbeing across England, including London. It was estimated that transport noise in London was responsible for the equivalent of thirty-six thousand healthy life years lost in disability in 2018. This includes effects from roads, railways, and air traffic. This work was based on methods developed by the World Health Organization, with further information available at the following link:

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/noise-pollution-mapping-the-health-impacts-of-transportation-noise-in-england/
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Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of HPV vaccinations for (a) girls and (b) boys. \p Andrew Gwynne: NHS Commissioned School Aged Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme. This is based on population need, and utilises opportunities from the move to one dose in September 2023. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with several charities to develop resources to raise awareness of HPV. The UKHSA also publishes annual statistics, which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-2022-to-2023/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccination-coverage-in-adolescents-in-england-2022-to-2023

These support local National Health Service teams in developing plans to improve uptake and reduce inequalities for the HPV universal programme. NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and has improved access to the vaccine outside of schools, through community clinics at convenient times and locations. The UKHSA produces a number of HPV resources, which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hpv-vaccination-programme.

Materials are also available on the UKHSA Health Publications website in a range of languages and accessible formats, at the following link:

https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle illegal puppy farms. \p Daniel Zeichner: As outlined in our manifesto, the Government will bring an end to puppy farming. We are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) adult and (b) foal (i) horses and (ii) ponies have been seized at the UK border following attempts to illegally export them to Europe since 1 July 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: In the time period between the 1st of July 2024 and the present date, there was one case at Dover Port where an illegal consignment of horses and ponies was identified and detained by APHA.

The details of the animals involved in that case are as follows: 1 intercepted consignment of 20 equine animals of which 12 were horses, 7 were ponies, and 1 was a foal (less than 6 months old).
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times the Timed Out Decision Contingency Feature has been used for medium-risk animal products in each month since February 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: Individual Local and Port Health Authorities will hold local data and will be able to identify when the Timed Out Decision Contingency Feature has been used.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there is adequate competition in the veterinary care sector. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) are currently conducting full market investigation into the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the UK. Defra appreciates any recommendations that support the services that consumers of veterinary services receive, whilst retaining a strong and healthy veterinary profession within the UK.

The CMA operates as an independent, non-ministerial department, which is separate from Defra. As such, Defra is not able to provide comment on any investigations currently being conducted but will consider the recommendations once the investigation is complete.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of capability for (a) sourcing and (b) deploying a vaccine in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth. \p Daniel Zeichner: The UK has been free of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) since 2007 and has plans in place to manage the risk of this disease as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) keep preparedness under continual review but are refocusing efforts following the confirmation of FMD in Germany.

In the event of an outbreak, alongside culling and movement controls, vaccination would be considered as a control option. To that end, the UK has a vaccine bank for a variety of FMD serotypes. Any decision to vaccinate will be based on expert advice across a range of factors.

APHA leads Government action on animal disease control and has outbreak response plans in place. These include measures to contract companies to support eradication and provide additional veterinary capacity. Response times are kept under regular review, and APHA is in the planning stages of a national exercise to test and validate our response to an outbreak of FMD, scheduled for 2025/26.

In response to the outbreak of FMD in Germany, Government has taken decisive and rapid action to protect the UK from FMD by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals and untreated products of animal origin from Germany and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the EU. We continue to review our preparedness and will take the necessary action to protect our FMD freedom.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of pet insurance premiums in the last 12 months. \p Daniel Zeichner: Pet insurance providers are private businesses and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of neonicotinoids that have been used since 2020 following an emergency authorisation on wildlife. \p Emma Hardy: Three neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam – are not permitted for general use because of the risks they pose to pollinators. However, emergency authorisations were granted by the previous Government for the use of the thiamethoxam-containing pesticide Cruiser SB to treat sugar beet seed in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Environmental monitoring activities were undertaken as a condition of the emergency authorisations for the use of Cruiser SB granted by the previous administration, alongside government-funded monitoring projects. The results of this monitoring work can be found within the HSE’s emergency registration reports, published on GOV.UK.

This year I rejected the application for an emergency authorisation to use Cruiser SB on sugar beet in England. I did not take this decision lightly, considering expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive and Expert Committee on Pesticides, the Defra Chief Scientific Adviser and Defra economists. In making my decision, I recognised that the potential adverse effects to bees and other pollinators could not be excluded if the Cruiser SB authorisation were to be granted.

In December last year we published a policy statement outlining our intention to end the use of these neonicotinoid pesticides for good. We will update the guidance that sets out the approach to decisions on applications for emergency authorisations to take full account of the importance of pollinators. Further, we will identify legislative options to prevent future use of emergency authorisations for products containing clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, which are extremely toxic to pollinators.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to commission a study into the potential impact of Halal meat on animal welfare. \p Daniel Zeichner: Legislation requires that animals must be stunned prior to slaughter so that they are unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to the requirement to stun is where animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites. The Government would prefer animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their beliefs.

Legislation sets out the main requirements to protect the welfare of animals when being slaughtered and there are additional rules that apply when animals are slaughtered by either the Jewish or Muslim method to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, suffering, or distress during the slaughter process.

Many animals that are slaughtered for halal meat are stunned before slaughter. The Government’s Farm Animal Welfare Committee published a report in 2003 which considered the welfare detriment involved in slaughter without prior stunning. The European Food Standard’s Authority also published advice on the topic in a 2004 report. The Department will continue to review any new scientific research and evidence which emerges.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12667 on African Swine Fever: Disease Control, whether his Department plans to continue to provide funding to Dover District Council beyond financial year 2024-25. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra, like all Government departments, is undergoing a zero-based review so this policy is being measured against all others. Any ongoing funding will be subject to approvals as part of the Spending Review.
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Sarah Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory method of production labelling on all animal products. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recognises the strong public interest in clearer animal welfare information on the food they buy.

A public consultation on fairer food labelling was undertaken between March and May 2024 by the previous Government. This sought views on proposals to improve and extend current mandatory method of production labelling. We are now carefully considering all responses before deciding on next steps and will respond to this consultation in due course.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure that written text on all food packaging can be read by people with visual impairments. \p Daniel Zeichner: The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels, so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The availability and accessibility of essential food information to all consumers is vitally important. It is already a requirement that food information must be easily visible, clearly legible and where appropriate indelible, in addition to there being a required minimum font size for mandatory information.

We continue to assess other possibilities to ensure accessibility of food packaging information.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will implement a (a) transparent and (b) meaningful method of production labelling. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central, Gareth Snell on 19 December 2024, PQ 20692.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Thames Water on its financial viability. \p Emma Hardy: Since July the Defra Secretary of State has met with water company Chief Executives and chairs, including Thames Water.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) promote and (b) fund nature-based solutions to reduce flooding risks along rivers. \p Emma Hardy: Defra’s Environmental Land Management schemes will provide payments for managing land and water in a way that reduces flood risk. For example, the Sustainable Farming Incentive standards include actions to support waterbody buffering and soil health on farm woodland and hedgerows. Countryside Stewardship currently provides payments for actions that slow down surface runoff and also mitigate flooding from rivers, and we have recently announced a significant expansion of the flood and drought resilience offer within Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. One of the 2 themes for first wave of Landscape Recovery pilot projects was “Restoring England’s streams and rivers: improving water quality, biodiversity and adapting to climate change.” Many of the actions undertaken to restore England’s streams and rivers will provide flood risk mitigation benefits as well.

Tree planting along rivers can help slow water flow and temporarily store water as part of natural flood management. The England Woodland Creation Offer provides financial support for tree planting and incentivises woodland creation that reduces flood risk through supplementary payments.

In addition, the floods investment programme delivers a range of schemes, including natural flood management. The Government inherited an outdated funding formula for allocating money to proposed flood defences. Established in 2011, the existing formula slows down the delivery of new flood schemes through a complex application process, and neglects more innovative approaches to flood management such as natural flood management. A consultation will be launched in the coming months which will include a review of the existing formula.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of farm diversification projects in rural areas. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recognises that rural areas offer significant potential for growth and is taking steps to support the development of farm diversification projects in rural areas.

As the Secretary of State announced in his Oxford Farming Conference earlier this year, he understands that the focus of the department should be on boosting profitability on primary income, whilst also supporting its diversification.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle the use of late payments by supermarkets and (b) increase transparency in the food supply chain. \p Daniel Zeichner: Farmers should always receive a fair price for their products and the Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists.

Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 we can introduce regulations, applying to businesses who purchase agricultural products from farmers, which increase transparency and protect farmers from unfair practices.

These regulations could mandate that contracts include certain information such as payment terms, pricing information and set parameters around these, increasing transparency for producers.

A sector-by-sector approach has been adopted, with the first use of these powers leading to Dairy Regulations, which came into force for new contracts in 2024. We will lay regulations in spring 2025 to improve fairness in the pig sector and are making progress on eggs and on fresh produce.

Where farmers sell directly to retailers, their agreements will be covered within the scope of the sectoral regulations that we are introducing through powers in the Agriculture Act 2020.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce regulation for farmers. \p Daniel Zeichner: Farm regulation provides important protections for the environment, habitats, animals, and public health. For example, it is helping reduce animal disease risk from BtB, avian flu and Foot and Mouth amongst others as we speak, this maintains confidence in our farm produce in both international and domestic markets as well as protecting the profitability of farmers.

If regulation is working well, it should provide clear and fair expectations, allowing farmers to operate their businesses with confidence. However, this is not the case currently with all farm regulation that has been left over to the new Government. This is why I have asked Defra to review farm regulation, focussing on how it can be more coherent, less time consuming and easier to understand for farmers under this new Government. I have also asked all Defra regulators how they are supporting growth.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning bottom trawling in marine protected areas. \p Emma Hardy: It is essential to manage bottom trawling in our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) appropriately due to the significant damage it can have on protected seabed habitats. Fisheries regulators make detailed assessments of the impact of all fishing activities on the protected species and habitats in our MPAs and develop byelaws to restrict fishing when it has been assessed as damaging. These site-by-site assessments help to ensure fishing is not unduly restricted. Recent examples of these assessments can be found at Stage_2_MPA_Fisheries_Assessment.pdf and Dogger_Bank_SAC_Fisheries_Assessment.pdf.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to re-open water testing Laboratories that are Regulation 31 certified. \p Emma Hardy: The water industry must comply with Regulation 31 and they cannot purchase and install a product from a supplier without first assuring themselves that the product has been approved or meets the requirements of Regulation 31. The Government recognises that it is critically important that there are effective procedures and regulatory oversight and the Drinking Water Inspectorate has been pro-actively supporting the industry towards accessing additional laboratory facilities and services with respect to Regulation 31 testing.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability for policy-making of existing measures of rural deprivation. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra has contributed funding to investigate rural deprivation as part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) work to update the English Indices of Deprivation. This collaborative work is considering what deprivation in rural areas is, data sources and methods to help quantify it and more formal guidance on the use of the Indices and their application to rural areas. A report on rural deprivation will be part of the updated English Indices of Deprivation anticipated in Autumn 2025.
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Dr Allison Gardner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Water Restoration Fund on river quality in Staffordshire. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, including giving environmental regulators powers to impose penalties on the civil standard of proof, in addition to new automatic penalties. The regulators will also be able to recover costs for a much greater range of enforcement activities.

For Price Review 2024, which runs from 2025 – 2030, Water companies will be delivering record levels of investment: £104 billion over the next five years. This gives the sector the opportunity for transformation, delivering better outcomes for customers and the environment

In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, also launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Defra is evaluating how water company fines and penalties can be reinvested in improvements to the water environment. A final decision on this will be made later this year.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report entitled Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recommendations for future veterinary legislation, published on 13 October 2021; and whether he plans to bring forward a consultation on the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. \p Daniel Zeichner: The department acknowledges the calls from the veterinary sector to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Defra is actively engaging with stakeholders, including the RCVS, to explore how legislation can best address the needs of the profession and public, both now and in the future.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support the development of domestic (a) infrastructure and (b) technology for tyre recycling. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to beginning the transition to a circular economy. The Secretary of State has asked his Department to work with experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis, supporting Government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. We will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what further interventions may be needed as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help tackle illegal waste in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency (EA) works with a range of professional partners to tackle all waste crime. In Lincolnshire the EA jointly chairs the Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership made up of Local Authorities and professional partners like the Fire Service and NFU. The local EA enforcement team is currently investigating a site near Holbeach St Johns in South Holland, Lincolnshire where bales of shredded, wrapped landfill waste have been deposited and stored illegally.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) farmers and (b) food producers use sustainable farming methods in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government’s commitment to farmers and food producers remains steadfast. We will always champion British farming to boost rural economic growth, strengthen food security and improve the environment.

Defra has allocated £5 billion for the farming budget over two years. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes. This enables us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing. This funding will deliver improvements to food security as well as the environment, in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency and more broadly across Lincolnshire and the rest of the country.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20228 on Civil Society: Islam, whether his Department has engaged with (a) MEND, (b) CAGE, (c) the Muslim Association of Britain and (d) the Muslim Council of Britain since 5 July 2024. \p Andrew Western: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dame Meg Hillier:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of ending the two child benefit cap. \p Sir Stephen Timms: No estimates have been published.

While we cannot currently commit to changing the two child policy, tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. This is why the Child Poverty Taskforce will look at all available levers to reduce child poverty, including social security reforms, before publishing a strategy.
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Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure unpaid carers claiming carers allowance over the retirement age on behalf of a disabled spouse below retirement age continue to receive benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave on 14 October 2024 to question UIN 6904

As explained in UIN 6904 these rules are based on the circumstances of the carer, not those of the disabled person.
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Peter Dowd:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of welfare support for people with bipolar. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The extra costs disability benefits, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), provide a contribution towards the extra costs that may arise from a long-term disability or health condition. These benefits are assessed on the basis of needs arising and not on the condition itself, so are available to those with bipolar disorder and other mood disorders when they meet the qualifying criteria.

The extra costs benefits are non-contributory, non-means-tested and can be worth over £9,500 a year, tax free. Individuals can choose how to use their benefit, in the light of their individual needs and preferences. They were not subject to the benefits freeze, were most recently uprated by 6.7 per cent from 8 April 2024 and, subject to Parliamentary approval, are due to be uprated by 1.7 per cent from April this year.

The benefits can also be paid in addition to any other financial or practical support someone may be entitled to such as Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, NHS services, free prescriptions or help with travel costs to appointments. They can also attract additional support such as premiums and additional amounts paid within the income-related benefits, access to Carer’s Allowance, the Motability scheme and the Blue Badge scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that Universal Credit advisers are aware that payments should be backdated when a change of circumstances relates to the award of a disability benefit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: All DWP new entrant work coaches and case managers receive job role specific technical learning, which covers backdating. As changes of circumstances are notified, the Universal Credit system calculates many payments due automatically. Case Managers are supported by coaching and quality assurance.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of removing the two-child benefit cap. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. The Child Poverty Taskforce is exploring how we can harness all available levers to reduce child poverty, including social security reforms, before publishing a strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Personal Independence Payment application process. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Customers are currently able to register for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) by telephone or in writing. Those who are eligible are then required to complete a health information questionnaire which is used to support the health assessment, undertaken by our contracted Health Professionals.

The health information form (PIP2) is generally completed and returned by post, but a proportion of customers are able to submit their information online.

We understand that the PIP application process can be challenging for some, in part due to the quantity of information that customers need to provide, but the process has been developed and improved over a number of years to be as straightforward and inclusive as possible.

For those who may find it difficult to complete the form we signpost to organisations that can help, and we can also provide more time for customers to complete and return their form if this is requested.

DWP offer bespoke services for those who find it difficult to navigate the process, for example those who are vision or hearing impaired.

To prepare customers for what they can expect when they claim PIP we also introduced a series of videos on YouTube (links below). These videos help to explain the different parts of the process including the application and the assessment.

PIP video 1 - An overview. PIP video 1 - An overview

PIP video 2 - How you can claim PIP PIP video 2 - How you can claim PIP

PIP video 3 - What you can expect at a PIP assessment PIP video 3 - What you can expect at a PIP assessment

Over the longer-term, the Health Transformation Programme is modernising the entire PIP service to improve customer experience and efficiency, building trust in our services and decisions. This year, we are expanding the availability of the digital health information gather, so that this option is available to everyone who calls to begin their claim. Once fully developed, the new service will include an option to apply and track the application wholly online.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Work and Pensions Select Committee report entitled Defined benefit pension schemes, published on 26 March 2024, HC 144, whether her Department plans to implement pre-1997 indexation for members of the (a) Financial Assistance Scheme and (b) Pension Protection Fund. \p Torsten Bell: The PPF and FAS rules on indexation have been the subject of much discussion. I am aware of the concerns surrounding the matter and understand the problems experienced by Defined Benefit pension scheme members adjusting to an income in retirement which may be less than they were expecting. I will continue to consider this issue, and the valuable report referred to (by the Work and Pensions Select Committee) and will respond fully to its recommendations in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Pension Credit applications were made in each of the last five years for which data is available. \p Torsten Bell: The table below shows the volumes of Pension Credit applications received in each of the last 5 financial years.

Pension Credit Claims

Received

April 2024 to 17 November 2024

215,200

April 2023 to March 2024

251,000

April 2022 to March 2023

267,000

April 2021 to March 2022

149,000

April 2020 to March 2021

142,000

The figures for 2024/25 are only covering part of the year and will be higher when all months are included.

The latest statistics on Pension Credit application volumes were published on 28 November 2024. This includes numbers of applications that were received, awarded and not awarded, from 1 April 2024 up to 17 November 2024. Pension Credit applications and awards: November 2024 - GOV.UK. The next publication of Pension Credit application statistics is due around the end of February 2025 and will cover the data up to week commencing 10 February 2025.

Please note, the data shown for previous years April 2020 to March 2024 is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average actual clearance times were for Pension Credit claims made from 25 November 2024 until the most recent date available. \p Torsten Bell: Pension Credit application Average Actual Clearance Times (AACT) are measured weekly. The AACT clearances are based on the week the claim was cleared, rather than the week the claim was made.

The table below the most recent national AACT data.

Week Date

25/11/24

02/12/24

09/12/24

16/12/24

23/12/24

30/12/24

06/01/25

13/01/25

20/1/25

PC Claims AACT (Working Days)

82

83

87

66

47

42

44

45

45

Please note
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people with the cost of living. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In England, the Household Support Fund (HSF) is a scheme providing discretionary support towards the cost of essentials, such as food and energy to those most in need, including disabled people. The current HSF is running from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. Funding of £742 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England, from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

This winter, we are continuing to deliver the £150 Warm Home Discount to eligible low-income households and we expect it again to support well over three million households.

The extra costs disability benefits are a contribution to meeting the extra costs that arise from a disability or long-term health condition. The benefits can be used by the recipient according to their own needs and priorities. These benefits were not subject to the benefits freeze, were most recently uprated by 6.7 per cent from 8 April 2024 and, subject to Parliamentary approval, are due to be uprated by 1.7% from April this year. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year.

The extra costs disability benefits can be paid in addition to other financial support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for, such as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and can attract additional support such as premiums and additional amounts paid within the income-related benefits, access to Carer’s Allowance, the Motability scheme and the Blue Badge scheme.
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Dame Meg Hillier:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the fixed disregard rate for the New Style Employment and Support Allowance. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The current disregard was set in 1999. We have no current plans to change it, but I will be interested in any proposals my hon friend brings forward.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November 2024, whether she has plans to review the eligibility of Personal Independence Payments claimants. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In the Get Britain Working White Paper we announced our intention to reform the system of health and disability benefits. We are working to develop proposals for reform and will set them out in a Green Paper in spring.

We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to reduce poverty for disabled people and people with health conditions and support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to reform the Carer’s Allowance system. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have announced the highest ever increase to the Carers Allowance earning limit, started considering the feasibility of a taper instead of the earnings threshold and launched an independent review of Carers Allowance overpayments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contracts (a) BFS Group Limited and (b) subsidiary companies of BFS Group Limited hold with (i) her Department and (ii) agencies of her Department. \p Andrew Western: DWP has no contracts listed with (a) BFS Group Limited or (b) any of its known subsidiary companies.

Similarly, we have identified no contracts listed between DWP Arm’s Length Bodies with (a) BFS Group Limited or (b) any of its known subsidiary companies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-03)

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Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress her Department has made on tackling fraud in the welfare system. \p Andrew Western: We are delivering £8.6bn of new savings over the next five years to tackle fraud. This includes recruiting an additional 3,000 counter-fraud staff, committing to deliver the Targeted Case Review in Universal Credit and bringing forward savings of £1.5bn through measures within the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill) which we introduced to Parliament on 22nd January.