theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-14 conversation_235
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-14 conversation_235

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government (a) participates in and (b) funds geoengineering activities; what information his Department holds on organisations in the UK which participate in geoengineering; and whether he plans to introduce regulations on geoengineering. \p Kerry McCarthy: Geoengineering can be considered to include both greenhouse gas removal technologies (GGRs) and solar radiation modification (SRM). GGRs are important for achieving Net Zero. Government is developing GGR Business Models to incentivise private investment in large-scale projects, and funds small-scale demonstrator projects [1] All projects are subject to relevant Environment Agency and local government regulations. The Government is not deploying SRM and has no plans to do so however it funds modelling research to understand the potential impacts of SRM deployment. Currently there are no UK or international laws specifically governing SRM, but numerous relevant legal frameworks and principles exist [2]

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-air-capture-and-greenhouse-gas-removal-innovation-programme-selected-projects

[2] https://co-create-project.eu/publication/scoping-note-on-applicable-legal-frameworks/
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_1

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the number of outstanding Access to Work applications was in each of the last 12 months. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The number of outstanding Access to Work applications in each of the last 12 months was:

June 2024 = 42,403

July 2024 = 48,270

August 2024 = 50,803

September 2024 = 54,530

October 2024 = 56,028

November 2024 = 58,112

December 2024 = 58,129

January 2025 = 60,427

February 2025 = 61,719

March 2025 = 61,674

April 2025 = 62,254

May 2025 = 62,907

Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. It should therefore be treated with caution.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_2

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make assessment of the potential merits of flexible working in her Department. \p Andrew Western: DWP recognises the potential merits of flexible working and has experience over decades of offering and allowing a variety of flexibilities. Flexible working hours, compressed hours, part-time hours, part-year working and partial retirement are firmly established practices across DWP, enjoyed at any time by thousands of our employees. Latterly, our flexible working offer has been added to with appropriate hybrid and home working. We will continue to keep our flexible working offer under review to ensure it reflects good employment practices, is legally compliant and appropriate for DWP’s public service function, and attractive for current and future employees we wish to recruit and retain in a competitive jobs market.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_3

Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's report entitled Triggers to claiming personal independence payment, published on 2 May 2025, whether she plans to revise the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments in light of that report. \p Sir Stephen Timms: This government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and giving everyone a better future, and that is at the heart of our welfare reforms. We are ensuring that our welfare state is there for people who need it now, and can be there for those who need it long into the future too.

Our intention is that the PIP changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026. This means there will be no immediate changes, and we are consulting on how best to support those impacted by the new eligibility changes.

The changes to PIP will help better target support towards those with the highest needs. This includes introducing a new requirement that, in addition to existing eligibility criteria, claimants must score at least four points in one daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component of PIP.

We have launched a review of the PIP assessment to ensure it is fair and fit for the future and we are working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much (a) local housing allowance and (b) housing support was provided to tenants in the private rented sector in each of the last five years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on how much the Department for Work and Pensions spent to support households a) in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and in receipt of the Local Housing Allowance and b) in the PRS in general is published and the latest statistics can be found at: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025 - GOV.UK, in the Housing Benefits tab.

For real term expenditure on all claimants in receipt of housing support in the PRS this can be found in row 80 of the published statistics. Expenditure on LHA can be calculated by summing rows 75 and 76.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_5

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the announcement of 60% office-based attendance on staff wellbeing in her Department. \p Andrew Western: Civil Service Heads of Departments across government have agreed that the Civil Service is best able to deliver for the people it serves by taking a consistent approach to in office working. Heads of Departments agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

The approach allows teams and departments to maximise the benefits of hybrid working and to get the best from being together. This also reflects the view of Civil Service leaders that there remain clear benefits to spending time working together face-to-face as the government delivers on the Missions commitments. The Civil Service approach is comparable to other large private and public sector employers.

In DWP around 35% of colleagues spend 100% of their time working in the office delivering face-to-face services to customers. Other colleagues are able to work in a hybrid way spending part of their time in the office and part of their time working from home. Senior Civil Service colleagues are expected to work from the office (which includes face to face time with colleagues or partners on official business elsewhere) for more than 60% of their contracted hours and the Department has now announced that colleagues at all other grades will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their contracted hours in the office from 1 September 2025. We have undertaken an Equality Analysis in respect of the increase to in office attendance to 60%.

Our revised hybrid offer, which for most hybrid working colleagues will mean them working, on average, from home two days per week, will still retain significant flexibility in line with the rest of the Civil Service. We are committed to supporting colleagues with workplace adjustments to thrive in DWP and line managers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 for employees with disabilities.

There is a wide range of wellbeing support available within the Department from physical to mental health as well as financial wellbeing. Colleagues have been signposted to this support through communications and advice. Colleagues have also been advised to speak to their line manager if they have any concerns regarding the change to 60% office attendance. The Department conducts regular colleague surveys to understand how colleagues are feeling about their wellbeing.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many minutes the average length of appointment is for a work coach. \p Alison McGovern: The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_8

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Tax Credit claimants were moved onto Universal Credit in each year since 2020. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The number and proportion of Child Tax Credit claimants who have made a claim to Universal Credit following a migration notice can be obtained from Stat-Xplore within People invited to Move to Universal Credit dataset.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_9

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to promote take-up of Attendance Allowance. \p Torsten Bell: Attendance Allowance provides support for those with care needs in England and Wales, regardless of income and capital. It also gives rise to an additional disability amount in Pension Credit for those on low incomes. Some advisory organisations and local authorities therefore encourage people with care needs to make a claim to Attendance Allowance ahead of a claim to Pension Credit.

Information and advice about entitlement to Attendance Allowance is available from a range of outlets including Jobcentre Plus offices, DWP and other helplines, GOV.UK and other online services, local authorities, public libraries, health clinics, doctors' surgeries, health visitors, and third party organisations such as Citizen’s Advice, Age UK, Age Cymru and Macmillan Cancer Support.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_10

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people on Universal Credit receive National Insurance Contribution credits. \p Torsten Bell: Class 3 National Insurance (NI) Credits are awarded to those in receipt of Universal Credit (UC). Where UC recipients are also in work or are entitled to NI credits on other grounds, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will undertake any relevant reconciliation where a mixture of credits have been received.

The full list of credits is listed on Gov.UK - National Insurance credits: Overview - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to the pensions markets on people in North Somerset and Hanham. \p Torsten Bell: This Government introduced its Pensions Scheme Bill on 5th June. This will legislate for a smaller number of bigger, better governed, better value pension providers investing in a wider range of productive assets. The Bill will also legislate for wider changes, from addressing the small pots problem to a value for money regime that focuses everyone on the returns being delivered for savers and duties on those who run pension schemes to put savers into a default pension benefit solution.

This Bill is about delivering better returns for savers and driving economic growth, which will make everyone, including those in North Somerset and Hanham, better off. A typical saver, saving over a working lifetime, could benefit by tens of thousands of pounds.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_12

Andrew Ranger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support women affected by changes to the State Pension age. \p Torsten Bell: This Government remains absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

The State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. In 2025-26 we will spend £174.9 billion on benefits for pensioners in GB, 5.8% of GDP. This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £145.6 billion in 2025-26.

Our commitment to the Triple Lock also means that the annual spend on State Pensions is forecast to rise by around £31 billion this Parliament.

The basic and new State Pensions recently increased by 4.1%, benefitting 12 million pensioners by up to £470 this year. That’s up to £275 more than if pensions had been up rated by inflation.

There is also supplementary support for those on low incomes. This includes direct financial help to low-income pensioners through Pension Credit, the Warm Home Discount and (in England & Wales) Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.

Finally, support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work or are on a low income but are not eligible to pensioner benefits because of their age.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to improve the Child Maintenance Service's procedural safeguards within paternity disputes. \p Andrew Western: Parentage disputes can be raised at any point in the life cycle of a child maintenance case.

If parentage is disputed before the initial maintenance calculation is made, the CMS will need to decide whether an assumption of parentage can be made. The circumstances on which the CMS can make an assumption about parentage are prescribed in legislation, such as the paying parent being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate. If none of the assumption grounds apply, then a maintenance calculation cannot be made until the parentage dispute is resolved. If parentage cannot be assumed, all parties will be invited to take a DNA test.

If parentage is disputed after the initial maintenance calculation is made, including instances where the maintenance is collected via wage deductions, the CMS will decide whether there is conclusive evidence to confirm that the paying parent is not the parent of the child in question. Conclusive evidence is either a DNA test result from an approved tester or a court declaration of parentage or non-parentage.

Where a DNA test is requested by the paying parent, the cost is paid by the paying parent. If the DNA test shows that they are not the parent, they will no longer be liable for child maintenance payments and will receive a refund for the cost of the DNA test. The CMS will also consider an application for a refund of any maintenance paid to date.

The DWP keeps all policies under review. Whenever the DWP does announce an intention to make significant policy changes then the Department will invite views and perspectives – including those of paying parents - through a process of consultation.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_14

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the employment support package in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, will create improved employment outcomes in line with her Department's Additional Work Coach Support Impact Evaluation. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of work, health and skills support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits backed up by new money every year, building to £1 billion per year by 2030.

The Department has extensive evidence on what works and this will inform the design of our new Pathways to Work support guarantee. This includes evidence from our Additional Work Coach Support offer. When we offered Additional Work Coach Support to people in the limited capability for work and work related activity group (LCWRA) in UC, those who took part were a third more likely to be in work 12 months later. They were also twice as likely to take up more intensive externally delivered support.

We are considering evidence from a wide range of other initiatives, for example Work Choice, a specialist employment programme for disabled people and those with health conditions, that showed people receiving tailored support were 40% more likely to be in work eight years later.

We will be developing more detailed assessments of the potential impacts of the employment measures proposed in the Green Paper as these are developed in detail. The Office for Budget Responsibility has also stated that it intends to assess the labour supply impacts of the Green Paper measures in their Autumn forecast.

As the Green Paper notes, we are also 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.

This is on top of existing programmes already supporting disabled people and people with health conditions into work.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unpaid carers have entitlement to (a) Carer's Allowance and Universal Credit, (b) Carer Element and Universal Credit and (c) a combination of Carer's Allowance, Carer Element and Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: (a) As of November 2024, there were 652,752 individuals entitled to both Carer’s Allowance and Universal Credit in England and Wales.

(b) As of November 2024, there were 978,159 households with Carers Entitlement to Universal Credit in Great Britain, with 893,258 of these in England and Wales.

(c) The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_16

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a work allowance within Universal Credit for unpaid carers looking after (a) disabled and (b) ill (i) relatives and (ii) friends; if she will make an estimate of the (A) number of unpaid carers who would be affected by and (B) the cost to the public purse of implementing this. \p Sir Stephen Timms: No recent assessment has been made.

The carers element in Universal Credit is an additional amount of benefit paid to support carers who provide care of 35 hours or more each week for a severely disabled person and as such these particular claimants have no work-related requirements. The carer’s element is paid in recognition of the support provided by carers for relatives, partners and friends who may be ill, frail or disabled.

Work allowances in Universal Credit are currently focussed on those with work requirements who may face additional barriers to finding and keeping work. These are for people with children and people who have limited capability for work because of a health condition or disability.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_17

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to reduce the backlog in Access to Work claims. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are committed to reducing waiting times for new applications for Access to Work and are considering the best way to deliver that for customers. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised.

In March 2025, DWP published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, to consult on the future of Access to Work. Alongside this, we are considering further changes within the existing policy framework to reduce the backlog of applications.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce delays in processing Personal Independence Payment assessments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner. Reducing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the Department and we are working constantly to make improvements to our service.

We always aim to make an award decision as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to review all available evidence, including that from the claimant.

The latest statistics show that the average end-to-end journey has reduced from 26 weeks in August 2021 to 16 weeks at the end of January 2025. This is because we’re:

In addition, the Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising Health and Disability benefit services to create a more efficient service, to reduce processing times and improving trust in our services and decisions. As part of this, from July 2023, a limited number of claimants have been able to begin their claim for PIP entirely online.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_19

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken was to process Access to Work claims once an invoice had been submitted in each of the last 12 months. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We do not record, and therefore do not hold, data on the average time taken to process Access to Work claims once an invoice has been submitted. To determine this, we would need to review all claims processed over the past 12 months to compare the date each claim was received with the date it was processed. This exercise would incur a disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an estimate of the value of Access to Work claims waiting to be processed. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have taken claims as those currently awaiting payment.

Estimating the value of outstanding Access to Work (AtW) payment claims would incur a disproportionate cost. To produce an estimate, each claim would need to be manually examined to determine the amount being claimed.

The number of outstanding payment claims currently stands at 21,304.

Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. It should therefore be treated with caution.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_21

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households on Universal Credit had (a) five, (b) six, (c) seven, (d), eight, (e) nine and (f) 10 or more children since November 2018. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The latest statistics for the number of children in households on Universal Credit are available on Stat-Xplore for November 2024. As statistics for the number of children are only available from April 2019, the table shows the data for November 2019 to November 2024.

Total number of households receiving a Universal Credit payment, with five or more children in the household, November 2019 to November 2024

Number of Children

Nov 2019

Nov 2020

Nov 2021

Nov 2022

Nov 2023

Nov 2024

5

10,841

20,591

26,136

31,310

35,124

48,956

6

3,136

5,879

7,753

9,348

10,278

14,899

7

860

1,649

2,221

2,689

3,053

4,812

8

286

564

736

914

995

1,822

9

83

170

269

288

337

668

10 or more

40

81

114

169

184

424

Total

15,256

28,934

37,224

44,712

49,972

71,580

Source: Households on Universal Credit dataset

Notes:
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_22

Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full time equivalent work coaches were working in JobCentres in each month since July 2024. \p Andrew Western: The table below shows the monthly number of full-time equivalent Work Coaches working in Jobcentres since July 2024:

Month

Work Coach  Figure (FTE)

Jul-24

16,780

Aug-24

16,850

Sep-24

17,020

Oct-24

17,240

Nov-24

17,210

Dec-24

17,190

Jan-25

17,240

Feb-25

17,280

Mar-25

17,160

Apr-25

17,110

Notes:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is a route for career progression for work coaches. \p Andrew Western: The work coach role sits within the Government Operational Delivery profession and is graded at Executive Officer level. Work coaches have the opportunity to progress their careers both within the Operational Delivery (Op Del) profession and within the civil service more generally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Anna Dixon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that people who receive the limited capability for work and work-related activity element of Universal Credit contribute an adequate share of child maintenance responsibilities. \p Andrew Western: The child maintenance calculation is designed to be fair for the paying parent, while ensuring they contribute a significant proportion of their income to support their children.

A banding system ensures that the very lowest earners and those on prescribed benefits pay a flat rate of £7 per week. Those that can afford to make a bigger contribution do so at a rate that reflects what they earn.

For child maintenance calculation purposes, a paying parent who is in receipt of Universal Credit and also has earned income will not be considered as being in receipt of benefit. Their liability to pay child maintenance will therefore be calculated based upon the income they receive.

The department is reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose. This has included updating the underlying research and considering how we ensure the calculation reflects current and future societal trends.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to establish a target for increased employment outcomes from the employment support package set out in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The government has set a long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate, which would be the equivalent of over two million more people in work. In April 2025 we also published new Get Britain Working outcome metrics, including intermediate objectives to reduce health-related economic inactivity and to reduce the disability employment rate gap.

The investment and reforms proposed in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, alongside our investment in Connect to Work and in new local trailblazers announced before the Green Paper, will make a significant difference to employment opportunities for disabled people and those with health conditions, and to making progress against these measures.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_26
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the employment support package set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper on employment outcomes of (a) disabled people and (b) people with health conditions. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The government has announced an additional £1.9 billion in funding for employment-related support between 2026/27 and 2029/30, for disabled people and those with health conditions. This will ensure that support is available from next year as benefit changes come in, and can be offered to anyone affected by those changes.

This support will be based on existing evidence of what works and comes on top of redeploying one thousand wok coaches helping sixty five thousand find jobs, Connect to Work helping one hundred thousand, and Work Well helping fifty six thousand.
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_27
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people qualifying for (a) blue badges, (b) housing benefit and (c) Carer's Allowance in Lincolnshire impacted by her Department's proposed changes to the eligibility for PIP. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Changes to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will not have an impact on Blue Badge holders as no changes are being made to the mobility component of PIP.

The assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility of the impact of the proposed changes on carers was only made for England and Wales as a whole. The impacts can be found in table A4 here: Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts.

There will be no immediate changes to PIP eligibility. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years.

The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment as conditions change over time.

After taking account of behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 in 10 of those on PIP daily living at the point any changes come in will still be receiving PIP by the end of the decade.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met.

We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I will lead. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of people on PIP and DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23bn in 24/25 to £31bn in 29/30.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the data release entitled Number of children in Universal Credit households, by School Year and 2024 Parliamentary Constituency, November 2024, published on 5 June 2025, if she will publish this data by local authority. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested data was published here on 6 June 2025, as an additional sheet in the spreadsheet entitled “Number of children in Universal Credit households, by School Year and 2024 Parliamentary Constituency, November 2024”.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-expansion-impact-on-poverty-levels
wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_29

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the number of children that live in families with a parent or carer that receives (a) the Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity element, (b) the Personal Independence Payment daily living component, where their claim was awarded less than four points in all daily living activities and (c) both, broken down by constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: (a) Official statistics for the number of households on Universal Credit (UC) are published every three months on Stat-Xplore, with breakdowns available by various geographies including Westminster Parliamentary Constituency. In addition, breakdowns are available by the number of children and the different UC elements, including the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity payment. The latest statistics are available to November 2024.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access general guidance on how to extract the information required. For guidance on the UC datasets on Stat-Xplore, see the Universal Credit Official Statistics Stat-Xplore User Guide.

(b) (c) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is an individual-based benefit and therefore DWP does not hold family information on its administrative systems, so this information is not available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_30

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the employment support funding required to secure employment income increases for people losing welfare payments as set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The government has announced an additional £1.9 billion in funding for employment-related support between 2026/27 and 2029/30, for disabled people and those with health conditions. This will ensure that support is available from next year as benefit changes come in, and can be offered to anyone affected by those changes.

This support will be based on existing evidence of what works and comes on top of redeploying one thousand work coaches helping sixty-five thousand find jobs, Connect to Work helping one hundred thousand, and Work Well helping fifty-six thousand.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_31

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department holds data on the work destinations of (a) existing and (b) past Universal Credit claimants by (i) industry and (ii) sector. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested information is not held systematically in administrative data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_32

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to introduce a minimum income guarantee for people in receipt of social security. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Government recognises the importance of the social security safety net and the role Universal Credit has to play in tackling poverty and making work pay.

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we announced that we will improve the adequacy of the standard allowance with the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced. This increase will be for new and existing customers and will help millions of people. According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, this is the largest sustained increase in the headline rate of benefit since at least 1980.

We recently introduced a new Fair Repayment Rate for Universal Credit customers, reducing the overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer's standard allowance. This enables approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households to retain on average £420 a year of their award. This increase will be for new and existing customers and will help millions of people with a cash increase of £725 by the end of the Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_33

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to help support (a) seriously ill and (b) disabled people who may be affected by proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment. \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) to focus PIP on those with higher needs. We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why, in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working (published on 18 March), we are consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including ensuring health and care needs are met.

This Labour government will always protect the most vulnerable. Those with severe conditions will not be affected. There will be no change for a person claiming PIP under “Special Rules for End of Life” (SREL). They will not require a consultation and will automatically be awarded the enhanced rate of daily living as is the current process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_34

Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of trends in the level of take-up of benefits by pensioners; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that eligible older people are (a) aware of and (b) able to access their entitlements. \p Torsten Bell: The Government wants all pensioners to get the support to which they are entitled. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign. The campaign included adverts on television, radio, social media such as Facebook and Instagram, on YouTube, on advertising screens, including on GP and Post Office screens as well as in the press.

Our drive to increase Pension Credit take up has successfully boosted applications. The latest applications and awards statistics were published on 29 May and are available at: Pension Credit applications and awards: May 2025. The statistics show that the Department received over 285,000 applications since 29 July 2024 and made almost 60,000 extra awards on the comparable period the previous year.

The latest phase of the Pension Credit campaign which started on 29 May will run for six weeks with promotion across print, radio and social media. Targeted promotional messaging is also planned for Carers Week (9th – 15th June).

Since February, the Department has been writing to all pensioners who make a new claim for Housing Benefit and who appear to be entitled to Pension Credit – directly targeting this group and encouraging them to make a claim.

For State Pensions, the Department writes to customers about four months prior to their State Pension age, inviting a claim to State Pension. The letter signposts the customer to claim online – which is the quickest and easiest way to claim. It also includes the telephone number so customers can also claim over the telephone or request a paper claim form.

Claims for Attendance Allowance are primarily made by post. Customers can print the claim form or contact the freephone Attendance Allowance helpline to request a claim form. A claim can also be made online at: www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim. The Department is currently testing this new digital claim process as a part of its wider service modernisation plans with the aim of providing a streamlined alternative in addition to the current paper application form.

Information and advice about pensioner benefits and entitlements may be available from a range of outlets including Jobcentre Plus offices, DWP and other helplines, Gov.uk and other internet sites, local authorities, Citizens Advice and welfare benefit offices, Social Services, voluntary organisations, such as, Age UK and MacMillan, public libraries, health clinics, doctors' surgeries and health visitors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_35

Natalie Fleet:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of when the JobCentre in Shirebrook will re-open. \p Andrew Western: To ensure DWP staff continue to work from, and deliver, our public facing services in a safe and secure environment, it has been necessary to close Shirebrook Jobcentre since September 2024 while the Department continues to assess the overall condition of the building.

As part of the Department’s business continuity measures, there has been no interruption to services as staff have continued to work from offices in the area, and where needed, customers are being seen at Mansfield Jobcentre.

The Department is committed to exploring all the available long-term delivery options for jobcentre services in the Shirebrook area and will provide an update for the Member of Parliament for Bolsover as soon as it is able to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_36

Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department is taking steps to (a) review and (b) simplify the process for pensioners to access the benefits they are entitled to. \p Torsten Bell: DWP is actively reviewing and simplifying the process for pensioners to access the benefits they are entitled to. This includes the ability to apply by various means—digital, paper, or telephony. We are also shifting towards a more integrated approach where our agents can advise and support customers across multiple benefits, rather than being trained in just one pension-related benefit.

To enhance accessibility, we provide various support options, including assistance from agents and third-party organisations, home visits for those unable to complete forms, and services for customers who are deaf or unable to speak on the phone. For the most vulnerable individuals, additional support is available through the Visiting Service and Jobcentres, which offer face-to-face assistance and referrals to specialist support when needed.

I always welcome suggestions for what more we can do to ensure more pensioners get the Support they are entitled to.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_37

Daniel Francis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleague on developing a cross-departmental strategy to support (a) carers and (b) disabled people into work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out a cross-government strategy to address key labour market challenges, especially tackling the increase in economic inactivity over recent years. It is part of wider government action to spread opportunity and fix the foundations of our economy.

This White Paper focuses on support for people who are economically inactive, people who are looking for work or want to progress, and people who are at risk of economic inactivity despite having a desire to stay in work. This includes disabled people, people with a long-term health condition, older people, young people, and those with caring responsibilities.

Additionally, in the Pathways to Work green paper we announced that we will be introducing a new guarantee that anyone who is claiming out of work benefits and is disabled or has a health condition will be able to access specialist work, health and skills support. This will be underpinned by additional funding of £1 billion a year by 2029/30. Following the conclusion of the green paper consultation period we will publish more detail on how the government will deliver the guarantee of access to work, health and skills support. We are working closely with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Secretary of State for Education on this.

On 3 December 2024, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I announced the appointment of Lead Ministers for Disability in every government department. The Lead Ministers for Disability will represent the interests of disabled people and champion disability inclusion and accessibility across each Department as they drive forward progress on the Government’s manifesto commitments and the five Missions.