theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_12

Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to increase sentences for individuals that sell knives to (a) teenagers and (b) young people. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: While it is the function of the independent judiciary to decide the sentence in individual cases, subject to the maximum sentence available and sentencing guidelines, tackling knife crime is a priority and the Government is determined to halve knife crime in a decade as part of its Safer Streets Mission. This is why, through the Crime and Policing Bill, we will increase the maximum penalty for offences relating to offensive weapons from six months to two years’ imprisonment.

These are for the offences of manufacturing, selling, hiring, offer for hire, lending or possessing in private any prohibited offensive weapon as detailed in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988. These also cover the offence of selling a knife or bladed article to anyone under 18 years of age.

Currently, the law is that anyone over 18 years of age found guilty of any of these offences will face a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. This Government believes that the maximum penalty does not reflect the seriousness of these offences, and that the maximum penalty should be in line with the current offence of unlawful marketing of knives which carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. This will align the maximum penalties for the offences in relation to sales of knives.

In addition to this, the Government has launched an Independent Review of Sentencing chaired by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. The Review aims to ensure that the sentencing framework is consistent, protects the public and that there is always a place in prison for violent offenders.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_13

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to prevent reoffending by people convicted of drug dealing. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We are tackling the causes of reoffending by investing in a range of interventions to address the underlying criminogenic needs of offenders (including those convicted of drug dealing). This includes accommodation, employment and substance misuse treatment services.

There are also a range of accredited programmes in prisons and probation designed to address offending behaviour. Those convicted of drug dealing offences may be suitable, for example, for the Building Choices programme, which provides offenders with a structured opportunity to learn, strengthen, and practice skills and behaviour that targets areas of common criminogenic need. Accredited programmes are complemented by a range of interventions that aim to support individuals to change their attitudes, thinking and behaviour, which are commonly delivered by third sector organisations – and may also be suitable for those convicted of drug offences.

Furthermore, people convicted of drug dealing are subject to licence conditions on release from prison which aim to protect the public, prevent re-offending and secure the successful re-integration into the community. For those convicted of drug dealing with substance misuse issues, licence conditions may require them to attend appointments with substance misuse services or to submit to drug testing.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_14

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has plans to remove the 28 day cap on the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Parliament intended the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to be an exceptional power, and any expansion of the scheme must be carefully considered. While we understand calls for expansion, it is important for both victims and offenders that there is finality in sentencing.

The Law Commission is undertaking a review of the laws governing criminal appeals. Last month, it launched a public consultation which invites views on a range of reforms to the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, including extending the 28-day time limit. The consultation is open to all and runs until 30 May: Criminal Appeals Consultation Paper - Law Commission.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_15

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme between 2019 to 2025. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: From 1 January 2019 to 21 February 2025, 781 sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Law Officers under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The number of referrals by Law Officers to the Court of Appeal each year since 2019 is as follows:

2019

93

2020

97

2021

155

2022

139

2023

139

2024

146

2025

12 to date

This data is available publicly using the Outcome of ULS Referrals Data Tool - Outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_16

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will hold discussions with the Sentencing Council on the adequacy of the Sentencing Guidelines for voyeurism offences. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Sentencing guidelines are developed and reviewed by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales, in fulfilment of its statutory duty to do so. The guidelines produced provide the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. They set out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is.

As an independent body, the Council decides its own work plan and priorities. As such, the Government cannot require the Council to review particular guidelines, and it is at the Council’s discretion whether to review particular guidelines, in line with its published criteria for developing or revising guidelines. This is available on its website at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/sentencing-and-the-council/about-the-sentencing-council/our-criteria-for-developing-or-revising.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_17

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice offers paid time off work, in the form of special leave, for kinship carers who have parental responsibility.

Special leave may be granted to employees who need time off work to attend to their caring responsibilities. It may be planned or unplanned, and paid or unpaid. Employees may request special leave for several reasons including:

where normal care arrangements break down and other arrangements must be made.

to care for a sick or injured child if no other arrangements can be made.

At the discretion of a manager, special leave may be granted for other personal reasons not mentioned above.

Kinship carers with parental responsibility also have a statutory entitlement to unpaid parental leave.

All Ministry of Justice employees who are kinship carers have access to:

a comprehensive flexible working policy which all employees can access via the intranet.

the employee assistance programme which offers a wide range of support to staff including confidential advice on personal, social or work-related problems.

a variety of staff networks aimed at people with caring responsibilities.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_18

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of support provided to (a) witnesses and (b) victims by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s Witness Service in (a) England and (b) Berkshire. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice commissioned Witness Service has been available in all criminal court locations since 2003. The service provides practical and emotional support and information to help witnesses (including victims) give their best evidence. The Witness Service has been delivered by Citizens Advice under grant arrangements since 2015. There are rigorous and appropriate oversight mechanisms in place, and the Department is satisfied that Citizens Advice is delivering an effective and consistent service across England and Wales in line with the requirements of the grant.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_19

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate support is provided to victims of rape and serious sexual offences in (a) England and (b) Berkshire. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice provides funding for vital victim and witness support services, including community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services, in addition to core funding for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to allocate at their discretion, based on their assessment of local need.

I am maintaining 2024-25 funding levels for ringfenced sexual violence and domestic abuse support in 2025-26. The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund provides c.£20 million to specialist sexual violence support organisations across England each year, including £700,000 for activities in the Thames Valley PCC area.

We have committed to introduce free independent legal advisors for victims of adult rape to help them understand and uphold their legal rights.

Beyond March 2026, the Spending Review will prioritise delivering the Government’s missions.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to lay out the terms of reference for the Government’s review into Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There are no terms of reference for the review process and we expect the review to take place throughout 2025.

The Government is fulfilling its manifesto commitment to review Universal Credit in a range of ways. We have already announced dedicated strands of activity, like the child poverty taskforce, as well as this work to take stock of the core structures and policies of Universal Credit.  We are engaging with a multitude of groups and people. We have begun to invite stakeholders to set out their concerns around Universal Credit and ideas for where it could improve.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_21

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) successful claim rate and (b) average number of points scored for PIP Assessments were for assessments undertaken (i) in-person, (ii) not in-person and (iii) across all modes in each of the last ten years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The successful claim rate following assessments undertaken (i) in-person, (ii) not in-person and (iii) across all modes is shown below for each of the last ten years.

Calendar Year

Successful claim rate (%)

Assessment  in-person (i)

Assessment  not in-person (ii)

All modes of  assessment (iii)

2015

-

-

64%

2016

-

-

69%

2017

-

-

68%

2018

-

-

65%

2019

-

-

62%

2020

-

-

56%

2021

-

-

51%

2022

42%

53%

51%

2023

44%

56%

53%

2024 (up to October)

44%

57%

55%

Source: PIP Administrative Data.

Notes:

The mean number of points scored for the Daily Living and Mobility components following a PIP assessment undertaken (i) in-person, (ii) not in-person and (iii) across all modes is shown below for each of the last ten years.

Calendar Year

Mean number of points scored at PIP assessment

Proportion of claims missing scores

In-person

Not in-person

All modes of  Assessment

Daily  Living

Mobility

Daily Living

Mobility

Daily  Living

Mobility

2015

-

-

-

-

12

6

0%

2016

-

-

-

-

12

7

0%

2017

-

-

-

-

13

7

3%

2018

-

-

-

-

12

7

5%

2019

-

-

-

-

12

6

6%

2020

-

-

-

-

11

5

4%

2021

-

-

-

-

8

4

7%

2022

5

3

8

5

8

5

8%

2023

5

3

8

5

8

5

9%

2024 (up to October)

5

4

8

5

8

5

8%

Source: PIP Administrative Data.

Notes:
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_22

Brian Leishman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,  with reference to the Government Response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation, CP973, updated on 22 November 2023, if she will publish (a) her Department's Impact Assessment and (b) any estimates made by her Department of the impact of the proposals on (i) the number of people in poverty, (ii) the number of children in poverty and (iii) the number of disabled people in poverty. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In January 2025 the High Court determined that the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors consultation was unlawful. The court found the previous government failed to explain their proposals adequately or to allow people sufficient time to respond.

As the previous consultation has been struck down, we will reconsult on the WCA changes as part of our Green Paper in spring 2025 that will bring forward wider proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_23

Mr Bayo Alaba:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of expanding Special Rules to all residents with a terminal illness diagnosis. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department supports people nearing the end of life through special benefit rules – called the Special Rules for End of Life (‘Special Rules’). For many years, the Special Rules applied to people who have 6 months or less to live, they now apply to people who have 12 months or less to live.

This definition is set out in the Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill 2022 passed under the last Government.

This Government has no current plans to extend the Special Rules eligibility criteria beyond 12 months. The 12-month criteria aligns with the definition of end of life used across the NHS

The Department recognises that determining an end-of-life prognosis is challenging. The current definition in legislation is clear; it applies where there is a reasonable expectation that death in consequence of a progressive disease is expected in the next 12-months. We support this in our guidance for clinicians, where we ask clinicians to consider: “their patient’s ‘estimated prognosis’ and whether it would not come as a surprise if their patient were to die in the next 12 months.”
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_24

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in her Department are employed on Skilled Worker Visas. \p Andrew Western: DWP currently employs 204 people on a skilled worker visa.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_25

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish a list of mental health conditions that qualify for the access to work scheme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There is no list of mental health conditions that qualify for the Access to Work Scheme. Access to Work is available for all disabled people and those with a health condition who require workplace adjustments that go beyond what would normally be expected from an employer through their duty to provide reasonable adjustments as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_26

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to change the classification of military compensation to bring it in line with civil compensation, in the context of what is categorised as a source of income for benefits means testing. \p Andrew Western: The receipt of War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) awards is already fully ignored when calculating eligibility for Universal Credit.

This is in line with the treatment of civil compensation payments for personal injury, which are usually in the form of lump sum payments and are disregarded as capital.

Periodic payments of civil compensation (i.e. income) in consequence of a personal injury either ordered by the court or under an agreement are fully disregarded.

The first £10 per week of a War Pension or AFCS award is disregarded in: income-related Employment and Support allowance; income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance; and Income Support. Armed Forces Independence Payments are fully disregarded in these benefits and can also allow the recipient to qualify for an additional disability amount. This contrasts with a benefit like Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit where there is no weekly disregard. Furthermore, these are legacy benefits, in the process of being replaced by Universal Credit, in which War Pensions and AFCS are ignored.

By default, the first £10 per week of a War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is disregarded in Housing Benefit. Furthermore, a discretionary scheme allows local authorities to fully disregard them.

In relation to Pension Credit, the first £10 of any War Pension payments or AFCS award made due to injury or disablement is disregarded. Four additions to the War Disablement Pension are completely disregarded: Constant Attendance Allowance; Mobility Supplement; Severe Disablement Occupational Allowance; and dependency increases for anyone other than the applicant or her/his partner.

War Pensions and AFCS awards are a qualifying income for the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit, which is available to those who reached State Pension age before April 2016. Armed Forces Independence Payments are fully disregarded in Pension Credit and can also allow the recipient to qualify for an additional disability amount.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_27

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding her Department has provided to the Motability (a) Foundation, (b) Scheme and (c) Operations. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Foundation charity, which is independent of government, oversees Motability Operations in its delivery of the Motability Scheme. The Motability Scheme does not receive any direct funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.

The Department for Work and Pensions facilitates a direct transfer to Motability of a claimant’s Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment mobility allowance if they elect to join the Scheme.

The Motability Scheme allows eligible claimants to exchange their qualifying mobility benefit for a lease on a Motability car, powered wheelchair, scooter or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_28

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to answer Questions (a) 31696 and (b) Question 31697 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, tabled on 13 February 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Questions 31696 and 31697 were answered on 27 February.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_29

Lola McEvoy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the level of Statutory Sick Pay on trends in the number of people claiming Universal Credit. \p Alison McGovern: The Department has not made an assessment of the impact of the level of Statutory Sick Pay on trends in the number of people claiming Universal Credit.

The Department has undertaken a Regulatory Impact Assessment and an Equality Impact Assessment of the Statutory Sick Pay changes to remove the Lower Earnings Limit and remove the 3-day waiting period. Both impact assessments can be found here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6715f848386bf0964853d848/Impact_assessment_improve_access_statutory_sick_pay_removing_lower_earnings_limit_removing_waiting_period.pdf

https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2024-0716/Statutory_Sick_Pay_EA.pdf
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has undertaken an impact assessment for the (a) Motability Scheme and (b) Motability Operations. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Scheme was scrutinised by a range of external bodies between 2018 and 2020, and a series of reports were produced:

The government responded to each of these reports.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_31

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to review the organisations that carry out the assessment process for disability and long term sickness benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The new Functional Assessment Services (FAS) contracts went live on 9 September 2024. The FAS suppliers are focused on embedding strong performance following the transition from the previous contractual arrangements.

Based on strict assessment criteria and specific requirements regarding delivery and performance, the department awarded contracts to the bidders who indicated that they would provide the best service and the best value for money for the taxpayer.

Each supplier is held accountable to the same service delivery performance standards set by DWP. The department will robustly manage and monitor the performance of the contracted FAS suppliers in order to obtain optimal performance. Contractual remedies and financial redress are available to the department should performance criteria not be met.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_32

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has taken steps to increase public awareness of legislation relating to access rights for (a) guide and (b) other assistance dog owners. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act. It has published guidance - ‘Assistance Dogs: a guide for businesses and service providers’- to help those bodies understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners.

Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue. The EHRC will support people who have experienced discrimination through that process.

Over the years, Ministers have held discussions with assistance dog charities about access refusals, and in particular with Guide Dogs UK, about their ‘Open Doors’ campaign which aims to achieve the fullest possible access for owners of guide dogs and assistance dogs. I fully support that campaign and the principle that Guide Dogs and assistance dogs should always be allowed access, except in the most exceptional circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_33

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to review the assessment process for disability and long term sickness benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are working to develop proposals to reform the system of health and disability benefits and will set these out in due course.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do.

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

The Health Transformation Programme is modernising health and disability benefit services to improve efficiency and customer experience. It will introduce a new option to apply online, improve how we gather health information, and tailor the process to the customer’s needs and circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_34

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support economically inactive people back into work in (a) West London and (b) other parts of London. \p Alison McGovern: The Get Britain Working White Paper published in November set out plans to deliver fundamental reform of our health, employment and skills system, that will help support economically inactive people in all areas in England get back into work.

We committed to:

The Greater London area will host several Trailblazers, covering both inactivity and youth. This will involve working closely with a range of local partners, including those based in West London. Additional funding will also be given to the Greater London Authority to support the development of their local Get Britain Working plan, to cover the four sub-regional London partnership areas delivering Connect to Work.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_35

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to consult claimants before making any future changes to (a) Personal Independence Payments, (b) Work Capability Assessments and (c) the Disability Living Allowance. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are working to develop proposals for health and disability reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement later this year. This will launch a public consultation on the proposals.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals, where appropriate, with disabled people and representative organisations.

Ahead of the formal consultation for the Green Paper, we have already started to explore ways of engaging with disabled people and their representatives, including through stakeholder roundtables and public visits. We look forward to progressing these initiatives over the coming months.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_36

Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the cap on Local Housing Allowance payable for temporary accommodation through the Housing Benefit subsidy system. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We continue to keep the rates used for Housing Benefit subsidy under review.

We are working closely with MHCLG and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping to explore the impacts of subsidy rates on local authorities and develop long and short-term policy solutions for the temporary accommodation sector.

The Government will prioritise the best way to achieve its mission and goals within the current challenging fiscal situation at the appropriate fiscal event.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_37

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications made for Pension Credit since 24 February 2025 (a) have been approved and (b) remain outstanding. \p Torsten Bell: The latest statistics on Pension Credit application volumes were published on 27 February 2025. This provides an update to the Applications and Awards data, including those awarded and not awarded and also statistics on the number of outstanding Pension Credit applications. The statistics provide weekly information for the period 3 April 2023 up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit applications and awards: February 2025 - GOV.UK.

The most recent available data for week commencing 17 February 2025 shows there were 33,700 outstanding Pension Credit claims. The statistics on Pension Credit claims are published at national level.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_38

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) are eligible to apply and (b) have applied for Pension Credit. \p Torsten Bell: Latest caseload statistics show that as of August 2024, there were 1,359,773 people in receipt of Pension Credit in Great Britain, of which 2,086 were in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency. This data is available via DWP Stat-Xplore.

The latest available DWP quarterly Pension Credit application and awards statistics show that between 29 July 2024 and 23 February 2025, 300,000 applications for Pension Credit were made in Great Britain. These statistics are only available at Great Britain level and cannot be broken down to smaller geographical areas. This data is available at: Pension Credit applications and awards: February 2025 - GOV.UK.

Earlier, published DWP Pension Credit Take-up statistics estimate that up to 760,000 households in Great Britain who were entitled to Pension Credit did not receive it. These statistics are only available at Great Britain level and cannot be broken down to smaller geographical areas. The latest available Pension Credit take-up statistics for Great Britain cover the financial year 2022 to 2023 and are available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_39

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people claiming (a) Jobseekers Allowance, (b) Employment and Support Allowance and (c) Universal Credit to find employment. \p Alison McGovern: This Government is committed to achieving an 80% employment rate by implementing a locally led system of work, skills and health support for all who are economically inactive by bringing together existing locally delivered employment support into a single, coherent offer that is part of local growth plans.

Backed by £240m funding, the Get Britain Working White Paper focuses on building a thriving labour market, reducing economic inactivity, and increasing the number of people in work. Key proposals include:
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_40

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the eligibility threshold for the winter fuel payment. \p Torsten Bell: The Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. Linking Winter Fuel Payment eligibility to Pension Credit and other means tested benefits ensures that the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they need. It also ensures that the payment can be paid automatically to eligible households without the need for them to claim or to provide details of their income, capital and personal circumstances.

Increasing the eligibility threshold for the Winter Fuel Payment would effectively mean raising the prescribed rates of Pension Credit. Raising the level of the single person’s standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit so that it matches or exceeds the full rate of the new State Pension to allow entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment would draw more pensioners into means testing; thus undermining the rationale for the new State Pension - the full rate of which is set at a level higher than the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee for a single person.

The primary purpose of Pension Credit is to provide poorer pensioners with a guaranteed income level, and we know there are eligible pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit. This is why, since September, we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign. We want to ensure as many people as possible have access to Pension Credit and the other support it leads to.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_41

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase the uptake of pension credit among eligible pensioners in Aldridge Brownhills. \p Torsten Bell: The Department’s campaign to promote Pension Credit has been running since September 2024.

The campaign has featured on TV, radio, social media such as Facebook and Instagram, on YouTube and on advertising screens, including on GP and Post Office screens.

Over the coming weeks, as part of the annual State Pension uprating exercise, around 11 million pensioners will receive a leaflet promoting Pension Credit along with their State Pension uprating letter.

We are also improving our use of existing data to target pensioners making new claims for Housing Benefit who we identify as potentially eligible for Pension Credit. We are writing to these pensioners to encourage them to also apply for Pension Credit.

The latest statistics on Pension Credit application volumes were published on 27 February 2025. This provides an update to the Applications and Awards data, including those awarded and not awarded and also statistics on the number of outstanding Pension Credit applications. The statistics provide weekly information for the period 3 April 2023 up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit applications and awards: February 2025 - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_42

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support pensioners who are unable to complete pension credit applications (a) online and (b) by phone. \p Torsten Bell: The Government wants those eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to. We know there are low-income pensioners who are not claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. We encourage all pensioners who may be eligible for Pension Credit to use the Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab) to check eligibility and to use our online Pension Credit claims process.

Claims for Pension Credit can be made online at: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.(opens in a new tab) The service is available to use 24/7, and provides those who may struggle to make their claim alone the flexibility to have a friend or family member to support them when making their claim at a time that is most convenient to them. Pension Credit claims can also be made through the Freephone telephone number xx-xxxx-xxxx, and there is an option to complete a paper application form.

DWP Agents and third-party organisations are available to support customers with the application process.

For customers who are unable to complete forms themselves a home visit from a visiting officer can be arranged. For customers who are deaf and use British Sign Language a Video Relay Service (known as VRS) is available and for customers who cannot hear or speak on the phone, can use Relay UK service. Further information can be found on Easy read: Pension Credit - GOV.UK.

On average, since the start of 2025, 90% of claims have been made online or via the telephone. The average online application currently takes 16 minutes to complete.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_43

Dan Aldridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help those with (a) severe health conditions and (b) disabilities complete the Personal Independence Payment application process. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department is regularly in contact with claimants who are vulnerable. Many, particularly those with severe heath conditions and disabilities, already have support in place from third parties (friends, relatives or appointees for example). However, for those who don’t, DWP provide a range of information and services to support customers through the application process.

Applications for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are normally registered by telephone. To support hearing and speech impaired applicants, DWP uses the Video Relay Service to communicate in real time through a British Sign Language interpreter over a video connection. DWP also uses Relay UK, previously known as Next Generation Text, to correspond through typed messages via a BT agent.

DWP offers a claims completion service over the telephone to help PIP applicants without support from another source.

For the most vulnerable customers, support – including help with form completion – is offered through the Visiting Service:https://www.gov.uk/support-visit-benefit-claim

DWP has also produced a series of videos to support understanding of and navigation through each part of application and assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/personal-independence-payment-customer-journey-films
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_44

Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff her Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024. \p Andrew Western: I can confirm that there have been no staff seconded from Palantir to the Department for Work and Pensions since July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_45

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29494 on Social Security Benefits: Fraud, if she will make it her policy to (a) record and (b) publish annually the number of benefit fraud investigations which result in benefits being revoked. \p Andrew Western: The Department is not currently considering changing the data we record or publish about the outcomes of fraud investigations. We are confident that the data we collect and publish in the Annual Reports and Accounts is comprehensive and proportionate – this can be found at the link here: DWP annual report and accounts.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_46

Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays in renewals of Personal Independent Payments (PIP). \p Sir Stephen Timms: DWP continues to prioritise new claims to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ensuring claims are processed and awarded as soon as possible. However, with limited capacity and resources, this means some customers are waiting longer than expected for their PIP review.

To help address this, and to speed up the process and increase efficiency, the majority of reviews are now completed in-house. This means a DWP Case Manager can make a decision where sufficient evidence and information is provided or available.

Where we cannot deal with a review in-house, and where an award may possibly end, we have robust measures in place to ensure all claims remain in payment, including those awards which rely on PIP to access Motability vehicles or automatic entitlement to a Blue Badge.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_47

Brian Leishman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families in receipt of Universal Credit that include an award for Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity due to physical or mental health conditions have (a) no children, (b) one child, (c) two children and (d) three or more children. \p Sir Stephen Timms: This data is published and accessible using the following link: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_48

John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to launch the review of Universal Credit; and when the review will conclude. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The review has already begun with the announcement of the Fair Repayment Rate in the Budget, giving 1.2m households an average of £420 per year. We are continuing to review the benefit to ensure it makes work pay and reduces poverty.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_49

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of Afghan nationals with Indefinite Leave to Remain are claiming unemployment benefits. \p Andrew Western: The Department does not hold the requested information on how many and what proportion of Afghan nationals with Indefinite Leave to Remain are claiming unemployment benefits.

The Department checks immigration status when assessing eligibility, but this information is not collated centrally and hence not readily available. The Department is exploring the feasibility of developing suitable official statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK / Irish Universal Credit customers.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_50

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on uprating temporary accommodation subsidy rates. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We continue to keep the rates used for Housing Benefit subsidy under review and work closely with MHCLG and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping.

The Government will prioritise the best way to achieve its mission and goals within the current challenging fiscal situation at the appropriate fiscal event.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_51

John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the upcoming review into Universal Credit will consult directly with groups of people who have lived experience of receiving Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department has been regularly engaging with stakeholders since the election and is committed to continuing to do so, on Universal Credit and other issues. We recognise the important role of people with a lived experience of receiving Universal Credit in the review process.

We plan to engage with a multitude of groups and people and will continue to use existing forums as well as set up new sessions. In addition, we have also created a mailbox where any customer can express their views on how Universal Credit could be improved to support them, and we will be launching a survey covering customer’s circumstances, knowledge of Universal Credit and their labour market aspirations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_52

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,  how many staff in her Department have been (a) affected by, (b) had their employment terminated and (c) had to leave the Department due to workplace visa rules in the last 12 months. \p Andrew Western: (a) DWP does not hold this information as people will be affected differently depending on their personal circumstances.

(b) DWP has not terminated employment. Contract end dates are aligned with Home Office right to work dates.

(c) In the last 12 months 15 people have left the DWP at the contract end date in line with their visa expiry date. DWP are unable to confirm how many of these left the department specifically due to workplace visa rules.
wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_53

John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the upcoming review into Universal Credit will be required to regularly report to Parliament on its progress. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Government is fulfilling its manifesto commitment to review Universal Credit in a range of ways. The Universal Credit review process is working alongside the child poverty taskforce and others to consider how the full range of Universal Credit policy areas contribute to our objectives to tackle poverty, make work pay and boost growth. We are not expecting to produce a formal report but as part of the review, Parliament will be regularly updated on progress and any future changes.