theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_214
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_214

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what lessons her Department has learned from international best practice on implementing early dyslexia screening. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia and other neurodiverse conditions. As part of this, the department is considering evidence on international best practice in its policymaking on special educational needs (SEN).

The department is providing £1 billion more for high needs budgets in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding to £11.9 billion. This funding will help local authorities and schools with the increasing costs of supporting children and young people with complex SEND.

Early identification of need and support is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND, including those with dyslexia. There are already a number of measures to help teachers do this, including the phonics screening check and statutory assessments at the end of key stage 2.

Schools should apply a ‘graduated approach’ to identify a child’s needs, plan appropriate support, implement that support, and review it regularly to ensure it continues to meet their identified needs. Through this, schools should develop personalised approaches to supporting the unique needs of individual pupils. Schools should involve pupils and their parents in this process, taking their views into consideration.

The core content framework and early career framework, for trainee and early career teachers (ECTs) respectively, covers the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career. They set out the core body of knowledge skills and behaviours that define great teaching, and from September 2025 will be superseded by the combined Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which sets out a minimum entitlement to training and must be used by providers of initial teacher training and those delivering training to ECTs to create their curricula. The ITTECF contains significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND.

Measures have also been introduced to support the effective teaching of reading, including for those at risk of falling behind. This includes the English Hubs programme, the publication of the reading framework and an updated list of high quality systematic synthetic phonics programmes for schools.

The English Hubs programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on supporting children making the slowest progress in reading. As part of the continuous professional development provided by the English Hubs, the Reading Ambition for All programme has been launched to improve outcomes for children who need additional support with reading, including those with SEND.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_215

Oliver Ryan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure children in (a) key stage 1 and (b) key stage 2 have sufficient access to (i) high-quality play provision and (ii) adequate time for play at school. \p Catherine McKinnell: Play is essential to development and learning for young children. This is recognised in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, and schools, governing bodies and academy trusts are responsible for ensuring the school day includes opportunities for social interaction, physical activity and enrichment activities.

Government guidance sets out the expectation that a school week is a minimum of 32.5 hours inclusive of breaks, providing lots of opportunity for schools to incorporate time for play and other activities.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_216

Mr James Frith:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Early Language Support for Every Child pilot programme on improved outcomes for deaf babies and children. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department knows that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities frequently require access to additional support from a broad specialist workforce across education, health and care.

Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) is a pilot programme operating in the department's nine Change Programme Partnerships. It seeks to improve capacity and knowledge of the workforce that supports children with emerging, mild to moderate speech, language and communication needs in early years and school settings.

ELSEC does not directly support deaf babies and children. However, the intention is that needs will be identified earlier and those who require specialist support will receive this in a more timely fashion, which could include children with hearing impairments.

The department recognises the importance of teachers of the deaf and is continuing to support the pipeline of these teachers. There are currently seven providers of the Mandatory Qualification in Sensory Impairment (MQSI). Teachers who teach a class of pupils with sensory impairment are required to hold MQSI. Teachers working in an advisory or peripatetic role are also strongly advised to complete MQSI.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has developed a sensory impairment apprenticeship. IfATE worked with universities, local authorities and sector representatives, including the National Deaf Children’s Society, the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People to develop the qualification. The apprenticeship is expected to be available from September 2025 and will open up a paid, work-based route into teaching children and young people with sensory impairments. This will improve the supply of those qualified to teach this important cohort and further help to improve their outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_217

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet with the hon. Member for West Dorset to discuss funding for Dorset studio School. \p Catherine McKinnell: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Ministers meet with a wide range of parliamentary colleagues to discuss schools in their constituencies. Should a specific meeting be required, the hon. Member for West Dorset may contact the Secretary of State’s office.

The schools national funding formula (NFF) allocates funding primarily based on pupil numbers and pupil characteristics, including additional funding for deprived pupils and pupils with low prior attainment. Schools also receive funding which does not change with pupil numbers, such as lump sum contributions to fixed costs.

The NFF is used to calculate funding allocations at local authority level. Local authorities’ own funding formulae determine the actual allocations for individual schools and academies, including studio schools, in their area.

Dorset Studio School is attracting nearly £2.9 million in the 2025/26 financial year, or £7,950 per pupil, through the schools NFF. However, as schools' final allocations are determined by local authority funding formulae and based on updated pupil numbers, the final funding allocation may differ from this. The academy general allocation guide for the 2025/26 academic year provides further guidance on understanding studio school funding allocations for the next academic year, and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academies-general-annual-grant-allocation-guides-2025-to-2026.

With regards to capital funding, ensuring schools and colleges have the resources and buildings they need is a key part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every young person the best start in life. The feasibility and project costs for Dorset Studio School are currently being reviewed and the relevant approvals will then be sought.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_219

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of small village schools on the sustainability of rural communities. \p Catherine McKinnell: The government recognises the essential role that small schools play in their communities, many of which are in rural areas. The schools national funding formula (NFF) accounts for the particular challenges faced by small schools in rural areas through the lump sum and sparsity factor. This recognises that some schools are necessarily small because they are remote and do not have the same opportunities to grow or make efficiency savings as other schools, and that such schools often play a significant role in the rural communities they serve.

There is a presumption against the closure of all rural maintained schools and departmental guidance states that both the department and the local authority need to agree the closure of a rural academy. Rural schools are at the heart of their communities, and we expect all proposers to have regard to alternatives to closure first.

The presumption against closure does not mean that rural schools will never close, but it does ensure that the case for closure is strong and that the proposals are clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area. Even in a rural authority, there will be cases where redeploying resources currently allocated to a small school is judged appropriate to provide a richer educational experience for all young people in the area. Nevertheless, the case must be clearly in the best interests of educational provision in the area.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_220

Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an estimate of the number of mobile infrastructure litigation cases that have been processed via the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber following changes to the Electronic Communications Code 2017; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on caseloads of changes to be introduced via the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The information relating to the number of mobile infrastructure litigation cases that have been processed via the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

We continue to monitor and review demand and work closely with the judiciary and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in respect of the impact of caseloads under the Product Security and telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_221

Warinder Juss:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what safeguards exist for (a) vulnerable and (b) elderly people when (i) wills and (ii) codicils are prepared for them. \p Alex Davies-Jones: There are various safeguards in statute (principally the Wills Act 1837) and the common law in relation to the making of wills and codicils. The law requires that a testator must have the necessary testamentary capacity to make a will, and for that will to be valid a testator must also know and approve of the contents of his or her will (or codicil).

Where a will is executed as a result of fraud or undue influence, the will is void and therefore has no effect, and where there are concerns on these grounds there is a legal basis for challenging a will’s validity.

The Law Commission is currently reviewing the law of wills and one of the issues it has particularly focused on is the protection of vulnerable testators. The Commission will be publishing its final report shortly and the Government will consider its recommendations with care.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_222

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of legal aid provision. \p Alex Davies-Jones: This Government has inherited a justice system in crisis, and the previous administration left the legal aid sector is under significant strain. We are committed to restoring our justice system and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the legal aid sector.

We recently concluded a consultation on uplifts to some areas of civil legal aid fees. Once fully implemented, this would inject an additional £20 million into the sector each year. We are currently reviewing consultation responses and will publish the Government response in due course. We will continue to consider the fees paid in other categories of civil legal aid, and the wider themes from the Review, in order to support the long-term sustainability of the civil legal aid sector.

On criminal legal aid, in November 2024 we announced our response to the Crime Lower consultation, confirming an uplift to the lowest police station fees, introducing a new Youth Court fee scheme, and paying for travel time in certain circumstances. Together, these changes amount to a £24 million investment for criminal legal aid providers.

In addition, in December 2024, we announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year to help address the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system, subject to consultation. We are also committed to continuing to work with the criminal legal aid profession, including the Bar, on further opportunities for reform this Parliament and to support the overall sustainability, diversity, and efficiency of the system.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_223

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to support the Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill. \p Alex Davies-Jones: This Government was elected on a landmark pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade. Tackling domestic abuse is a core part of this mission.

As discussed during the recent Adjournment Debate on Domestic Abuse Offences, the Government is actively considering various approaches to address the challenges posed by domestic abuse. However, there is a risk that proposals set out in the Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill could unwittingly create a system in which some offences are deemed serious enough to constitute offences that could be aggravated by domestic abuse, whereas other offences in which domestic abuse could play a part are not. For example, we should not return to the outdated view that domestic abuse only involves physical violence.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that the harm caused by offences typically committed against women and girls is appropriately and proportionally reflected in the sentencing framework. The Sentencing Review, chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, is currently examining the sentencing of offences primarily committed against women and girls. We are committed to engaging with the review to ensure the best outcomes for survivors of domestic abuse.

We agree with the Honourable Member for Eastbourne that it is crucial that we are able to better protect victims of domestic abuse, and I have committed to discuss this with him in more detail.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_224
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_224

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of trends in the level of compensation provided for (a) childcare, (b) other care, (c) food and drink, (d) travel and (e) parking costs to people on jury duty in real terms in the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: The jury process is a cornerstone of the justice system in England and Wales. Jury service is an important civic duty and jurors play a vital role in upholding justice. The Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their period of service. This will include, but not be limited to, assessing any significant trends in compensation applications or payments, as well as other participation-related data.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_225
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_225

Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to equalise the statutory limitation periods for prosecution in (a) section 66B(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, (b) clause 141 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill and (c) section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003. \p Alex Davies-Jones: We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_226
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_226

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those reforms on people with (a) sarcoidosis, (b) ME and (c) other fluctuating health conditions. \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. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.

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/answers2025-03-31 conversation_227
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_227

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those reforms on the finances of people in receipt of carers' allowance caring for someone in receipt of PIP. \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. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. The publication ‘Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts’ may be of interest. In particular, Table A1 on page 6 and Table A4 on page 9.

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/answers2025-03-31 conversation_228
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_228

Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025, what proportion of PIP assessments she expects to be face-to-face. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department is committed to assessing people for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as quickly as possible to ensure they receive the support they are entitled to in a timely manner. PIP assessments are currently carried out via a range of channels. As set out in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, we are committed to doing more face-to-face assessments, while preserving alternative health assessment channels to meet the specific needs of people who require a different channel, for example as a reasonable adjustment.

Further details on this commitment, along with other measures designed to improve the PIP assessment are set out in the Green Paper. We will set out further detail of the proposals for reform of the health and disability system following a full 12-week consultation period where responses are fully considered.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_229
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_229

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, which organisations will be responsible for spending the additional funding for employment, health and skills support. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work, backed up by £1 billion of new funding.

As the Green Paper notes, we are keen to engage widely on the design of this guarantee and the components needed to deliver it. To get this right, we will be seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders including devolved governments, local health systems, local government and Mayoral Strategic Authorities, private and voluntary sector providers, employers and potential users. We will confirm further details in due course after we have completed our consultation process.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_230
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_230

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she last met with Motability; and what she had discussions on. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Scheme is open to claimants who are in receipt of an eligible benefit. If a claimant elects to join the Scheme, the Department directly transfers the mobility allowance to Motability Operations on behalf of the eligible claimant. The Motability Scheme does not receive any direct funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.

A range of external bodies scrutinised the Scheme between 2018 and 2020, and the Government responded to each of the reports.

The 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. The department does however work closely with Motability and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Department officials have regular meetings with Motability and will continue to do so.

As the Minister for Social Security and Disability, I met with Motability Foundation in November 2024 to discuss the Scheme and its strategic objectives.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_231
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_231

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, with which organisations she has held discussions on her proposed reforms to the Personal Independence Payment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have set out proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system in the Pathways to Work Green Paper published on 18 March 2025. A full 12-week consultation will begin from the point all accessible versions are published on GOV.UK.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new PIP eligibility requirement, and we will consider improvements to the PIP assessment. We would like to hear views from a wide group of people, in particular disabled people and people with health conditions and disability organisations, and encourage responses to the consultation through the online form, email and post. We also intend to run a number of accessible virtual and face-to-face events on the Green Paper to hear from stakeholders, including disabled people and their representative organisations, directly. More information on these events and registration will be advertised on the consultation pages on GOV.UK in due course.

We also announced plans to launch a review of the PIP assessment which I will lead and we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_232
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_232

Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025, whether her Department plans to provide additional training to assessors carrying out PIP assessments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: All health professionals who carry out PIP assessments receive comprehensive training in disability analysis which includes evaluation as to how medical conditions affect claimants in their day-to-day activities, as well as awareness training in specific conditions. The department works extensively with assessment providers to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures to ensure a quality service. All core training and guidance material for health professionals undergoes both clinical and policy quality assurance.

On 18 March we announced our 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. All health professionals and DWP case managers will receive training and guidance on these changes to eligibility criteria before they are implemented.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_233
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_233

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support economically inactive young people with seeking (a) education and (b) employment opportunities in Wolverhampton. \p Alison McGovern: Our plan to get Britain working includes a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. The West Midlands Combined Authority, of which Wolverhampton is a part, is one of the eight Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England set to receive grant funding to deliver the Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, as announced in the “Get Britain Working” White Paper from Spring 2025. We will use the learning from the Trailblazers to inform the future design and development of the Youth Guarantee as it rolls-out across the rest of England.

DWP currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside our partners. For example, in Wolverhampton we’ve partnered with Wolves Foundation to set up a programme called “Mindshift” which takes place at Molineux football ground and supports young people with health conditions, in particular mental health conditions, into employment.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_234
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_234

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what discussions she has had with employers on mandatory reporting of the disability pay gap. \p Sir Stephen Timms: On 18 March 2025, the Government launched a consultation on mandatory pay gap reporting for both disability and ethnicity. Responses to the consultation will help to shape proposals which will be included in the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which was announced in the King’s Speech in July 2024.

Our engagement with stakeholders has included discussions with employers and employer representative bodies, for example the CBI and the Institute of Directors. We will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including businesses as we develop the legislation.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_235
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_235

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her policy is on the continued payment of Personal Independence Payment while a decision to end the payment is subject to an appeal. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not an income replacement benefit. It is paid to help with the additional costs that arise from long term health conditions or disability where they impact on the activities set out in legislation. Claimants are assessed against the legislative criteria and a decision on entitlement is made by a DWP decision maker.

In line with the legislative requirement, we continue to apply the latest decision on a PIP award until such time as a new decision is made. Payment of PIP after a claim has been disallowed, or payment at a rate higher than the latest decision, whilst an individual is waiting for an appeal hearing could lead to incorrect expenditure of public funds. If a subsequent first-tier tribunal makes a new decision to reinstate PIP or give a higher award, then the Department will backdate any payments due.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_236
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_236

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's proposed changes to PIP on access to (a) carers allowance, (b) council tax support and (c) other benefits linked to PIP. \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 are no longer eligible for PIP and linked entitlements, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_237

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department funds electric vehicles through the Motability scheme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department works closely with Motability Foundation and whilst we are responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, we do not fund vehicles, be they electric or otherwise.

Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.

The Department does not hold data on the Motability fleet of cars.

Questions about the operations of the Motability Foundation should be addressed to the Foundation.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_238
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_238

Ian Lavery:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming the Personal Independence Payment are also claiming the (a) limited capability for work and work-related activity component of Universal Credit or old-style Employment and Support Allowance in (i) Blyth and Ashington constituency, (ii) Northumberland, (iii) the North East and (iv) England. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information to answer these questions can be found on Stat-Xplore in the Benefit Combinations - Data from May 2019 for England and Wales dataset. The most recent month for which data is available is August 2024. The data can be filtered by Benefit to include PIP Claimants only. The data can also be broken down by Additional Claim Details to include ESA Payment type and UC Health Journey information, and for a range of geographical areas.

Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here. An account is not required to use Stat-Xplore, the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_239
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_239

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing the lower standard rate of Universal Credit for under 25s. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There are no current plans to remove the under 25 Standard Allowance rate. 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.

A reduced Universal Credit rate maintains the incentive for young people to find, and progress in, work, as we continue to support them into employment and to improve their career opportunities. Support is available to help those who live independently or have additional living costs. Depending on their circumstances, they may also be eligible for additional Universal Credit elements, including for housing, children, childcare costs, and disability.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_240
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_240

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people leased a Motability vehicle in each year since 2010 by (a) benefit claim and (b) health condition. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Scheme operates throughout the UK and is open to recipients of enhanced mobility Personal Independence Payment, higher rate mobility Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement and Armed Forces Independence Payment (including equivalent Scottish benefits). Whilst the Government facilitates the transfer of benefits for claimants who choose to join the Scheme, we do not collate data on benefit type or health condition for those who chose to join the Scheme.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_241

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39206 on Personal Independence Payment: Neurodiversity, if she will make it her policy to maintain the level of the Personal Independence Payment for (a) neurodivergent people and (b) people with severe mental distress. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

The PIP assessment considers the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. Therefore, the impact in each case will depend on an individual’s circumstances. From November 2026, at their next award review, people will be reviewed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstance. More information on the impacts and equality analysis for these changes published on 26 March can be found: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_242

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support PIP claimants into work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support, backed up by £1 billion of new funding. We want this guarantee to have a particular focus on early support, by offering everyone who claims UC and has a work-limiting health condition or who has recently been in receipt of PIP, with a support conversation. This would be focused on their goals and the help they need to achieve them.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_243
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_243

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Motability vehicles have been taken away due to (a) lapsed eligibility and (b) misuse in each year since 2010. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Whilst the Department works closely with Motability Foundation and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations. Any questions relating to the administration of the Scheme should be directed to Motability Foundation.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_244
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_244

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to (a) reform (i) employment support and (ii) disability services and (b) support more people into work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work, backed up by £1 billion of new funding.

As the Green Paper notes, we are keen to engage widely on the design of this guarantee and the components needed to deliver it. To get this right, we will be seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders including devolved governments, local health systems, local government and Mayoral Strategic Authorities, private and voluntary sector providers, employers and potential users. We will confirm further details in due course after we have completed our consultation process.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_245
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_245

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of individuals that will have their benefit funding reduced under the Government's proposed welfare reforms. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department published an Impact Analysis alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March 2025.

This document contains forecast estimates of the numbers of individuals who will be affected by the proposed welfare reforms.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_246

Mr Calvin Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people that receive (a) enhanced daily living Personal Independence Payment awards and (b) standard daily living Personal Independence Payment awards did not score four or more in any individual activity in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in January 2025. \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. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.

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/answers2025-03-31 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_247

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that changes to (a) Universal Credit taper rates and (b) other benefits (i) encourage more people into work and (ii) support people in work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As the Chancellor has set out, this Government is reforming the social security system to support people into work, while protecting people who will never be able to – making the system sustainable so that it is there to help those of us that need it now and long into the future.

These changes come on top of our Get Britain Working White Paper which set out the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, and the increase in the Universal Credit work allowance to £684 per month for those without housing costs or £411 per month for those with housing costs.

In addition, Universal Credit withdraws financial support at a steady rate allowing those on low incomes to keep more of what they earn. It does this by applying a single taper rate of 55% to net earnings before reducing the amount of Universal Credit someone is eligible for. This means claimants still benefit from their income as 45 pence in every pound earned would be kept. In some cases, claimants may also benefit from a work allowance, which is the amount someone can earn before the 55% taper is applied to their net earnings.

These policies are kept under regular review to ensure they continue to make work pay and provide the correct incentives to allow those receiving Universal Credit to move into and progress in work.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_248

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to encourage those eligible to apply for Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department provides extensive information including on Universal Credit on Gov.uk that supports claimants identify what support may be available. Additionally, we signpost potential customers to external benefit calculators where they can identify what they are likely to be eligible for. We also work closely with Citizens Advice who provide Help to Claim support for claimants in GB to make a claim to Universal Credit. This includes marketing and publicising Help to Claim support.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_249
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_249

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Disability Confident Scheme on the ability of disabled people to find work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In 2022, the department commissioned a survey to understand from members’ perspectives the impact that signing up to the scheme has had on their recruitment and retention attitudes and practices towards disabled people. The survey can be accessed on gov.uk using the following link: Disability Confident: survey of participating employers, May 2022 - GOV.UK

There are currently over 19,000 employers signed up to the Disability Confident scheme. Collectively, these employers estimate over 12 million employees work in their organisations. It is not known how many of these employees are disabled, have a health condition, or are direct users of the scheme.

No assessment has been made of the impact of the scheme on the ability of disabled people to find work. I have been discussing with stakeholders in Disability Confident ideas for making the scheme criteria more robust, and plan to bring forward proposals for this in due course.
wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_250
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-31 conversation_250

Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the revised Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment criteria accounts for (a) fluctuating and (b) hidden symptoms of multiple sclerosis; and if she will make an assessment of the accuracy of the PIP assessment process. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The PIP assessment considers the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. Therefore, the impact in each case will depend on an individual’s circumstances. For those already on PIP, the changes will only apply from November 2026 at their next award review, subject to parliamentary approval. People will be reviewed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstance. More information on the impacts and equality analysis for these changes published on 26 March can be found: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK .

In the Green Paper, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, we have committed to exploring ways to improve the PIP assessment. We are exploring digitalising transfer of medical information, using evidence from eligibility for other services to reduce the need for people with very severe health conditions to undergo functional assessments, and improving communication with people receiving awards who are expected to remain on disability benefits for life. We have also committed to a full review of the PIP assessment.

Alongside this, the Green Paper also includes plans to improve trust in the process. These plans include reviewing our approach to safeguarding, recording assessments to increase transparency, and moving back to having more face-to-face assessments while continuing to meet the needs of people who may require different methods of assessment.