theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Dr Beccy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to support global health workforce development as part of the UK’s international health security agenda. \p Ashley Dalton: Strong, resilient health systems are essential for the delivery of the United Kingdom’s wider global health objectives of strengthening global health security, including tackling the threat of anti-microbial resistance and the spread of disease, and ending the preventable deaths of new-borns and children. The UK thus recognises the need to support developing countries with their health workforce.

Since 2022, the Department has committed £20 million in Official Development Assistance funding to the Global Health Workforce Programme. The programme aims to support the development of the health workforce in six African countries and regions, aiding them to build stronger, resilient health systems for health security and to make progress towards universal health coverage. It is aligned to the World Health Organization’s Working for Health Action Plan 2022-2030.

The Department’s Global Health Workforce Programme will conclude at the end of this financial year on the completion of its current grant. However, the UK will continue to support Global Health and Global Health Security including through key health multilaterals such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the World Health Organization. We also support the development of a global workforce for health security preparedness through technical assistance offered by the International Health Regulations Strengthening Programme, and in outbreak response through the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve survival rates for (a) pancreatic cancer and (b) other cancers in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency. \p Ashley Dalton: Improving survival rates for all cancers, including pancreatic cancer, is a priority for the Government. As the first step to ensuring faster diagnosis and treatment, we have delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week.

NHS England is providing a route into pancreatic cancer surveillance for those at high-risk to identify lesions before they develop into cancer. NHS England is additionally creating pathways to support faster referral routes for people with non-specific symptoms and is increasing direct access for general practitioners to diagnostic tests.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients across the country, including North East Somerset and Hanham, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will aim to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates, including for those with pancreatic cancer.
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many radiographers will be trained in each year until 2030. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, CP 1336, published on 11 June 2025, whether he considered increasing revenue funding for end of life care as part of the Spending Review. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many consultant posts are vacant in the each of the acute hospital trusts in the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many radiographers have been in post at Warrington and Halton University Hospitals Trust in each year since 2015. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) increase awareness of, (b) improve screening for and (c) develop research into lobular breast cancer; and what recent discussions his Department has had with NHS England on the (i) prevalence and (ii) detectability of this type of breast cancer. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of specialist dental provision for patients with autism. \p Stephen Kinnock: Community Dental Services (CDS) provide specialised dental services to people with additional needs, such as people with autism, and are available in a variety of places to ensure everyone can access National Health Service dental care. These include hospitals, centres providing specialist services and mobile clinics, as well as home visits or visits in nursing and care homes.

The Getting it Right First Time report published by NHS England in January 2025, sets out recommendations to improve CDS for children and adults. In response, we are improving data reporting to increase oversight of CDS activity, and integrated care boards will consider the recommendations as part of their responsibility for commissioning CDS for their local areas. The report is available from the following link:

https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/focus-on-community-dental-services-in-new-girft-supplementary-report/

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, providers registered with the Care Quality Commission must ensure their staff receive specific training on learning disability and autism appropriate to their role. This will help to ensure that staff have the right knowledge and skills to provide safe and informed care for these people.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there is a clear referral pathway for (a) autism and (b) ADHD assessments for children around the age of five. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment services and referral pathways, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults referred to an autism assessment service. This includes guidance on identification and referral for autism assessments. Since publication, NHS England has been supporting systems and services to use this guidance to support the delivery of autism assessment pathways.

In respect of ADHD, NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is working to bring together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sectors. The taskforce is working to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support, and to make recommendations for improvement. The interim report was published on 20 June 2025, with the final report expected in the summer.

If an individual suspects their child is autistic or has ADHD, they should speak to a general practitioner (GP) or a health visitor, for children under five years old, and after the appointment the GP may decide to refer them for an assessment. Further information can be found on the NHS website.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase support for learning disability services in West Dorset constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: Each integrated care board must have an executive lead for learning disability and autism. To make it easier for people with a learning disability and autistic people to use health services, there is work underway in NHS England to make sure that staff in health settings know if they need to make reasonable adjustments for people. This includes the development of a Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag, which enables the recording of key information about a patient, including if a person is autistic or has a learning disability, and their reasonable adjustment needs, to ensure support can be tailored appropriately.

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, from 1 July 2022, Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered providers are required to ensure their staff receive specific training on learning disability and autism appropriate to their role. This helps to ensure that staff have the right knowledge and skills to provide safe and informed care. To support providers to meet the statutory training requirement, we have been rolling out the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, otherwise known as Oliver’s Training, to the health and adult social care workforce. A code of practice has been published to guide CQC registered providers on how to meet the statutory requirement for learning disability and autism training under the Health and Care Act 2022 which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oliver-mcgowan-code-of-practice
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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism for improving compliance with the Equality Act at CQC registered practices. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is for individual organisations, including Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered practices, to comply with the Equality Act 2010, guidance on which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance

A code of practice has been published to guide CQC registered providers on how to meet the statutory requirement for learning disability and autism training under the Health and Care Act 2022 which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oliver-mcgowan-code-of-practice

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, otherwise known as Oliver’s Training, is the Government’s recommended training package.

The CQC has a role in assessing the completion and effectiveness of training, which may include Oliver’s Training, in relation to Regulation 18: Staffing of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Where an inspection involves the assessment of staff training, the CQC assesses the impact of training on the lives, outcomes and experiences of autistic people and people with a learning disability. The CQC also assesses whether people’s care, treatment and support promotes equality, removes barriers or delays and protects their rights under the Equity in experiences and outcomes quality statement, which is available at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/assessment/single-assessment-framework/responsive/equity-experiences-outcomes

All assessments carried out through formal inspection activity are reported on and published on the CQC website.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to Integrated Care Boards to support people with learning disabilities. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England is responsible for setting funding allocations for integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs primarily pay for learning disability and autism services from their general allocation to provide healthcare for their population. In 2024/25, ICBs spent £3,323 million of their total allocation on learning disability and autism services and an additional £130 million on transformation programmes, including community/children and young people keyworkers, autism, and partnerships in neurodiversity in schools.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure (a) MPs, (b) care provider organisations, (c) VCS and (d) other stakeholders are included in the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Terms of Reference are sufficiently broad to enable the commission to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future. The commission is independent and will consider its own plans on how to engage with stakeholders and lead a national conversation on how best to meet the current and future needs of the population.
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how people who are responsible for funeral costs and in receipt of a qualifying benefit have an application for a Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment refused because of the family tests in the eligibility criteria in each of the last five years. \p Torsten Bell: Table 1 shows the number of applicants responsible for funeral cost who were receipt of qualifying benefits but were refused a Funeral Expenses Payment due to the family test reasons below:

Table 1: Funeral Expense Payments- Refusals linked to the Family Test

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Number of Refusals

1,100

900

1,200

1,200

1,000

Notes:

- These figures have been estimated using unaudited internal DWP Management Information which is not quality assured to the same extent as Official / National statistics.

- These applicants are assumed to have been responsible for funeral costs and to have been in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

- Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55944, what steps her Department plans to take to support people with complex and overlapping health conditions who are subject to the current PIP assessment criteria before the reforms proposed in her Department's Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work, last updated on 18 June 2025, are implemented. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that changes will be made to the eligibility criteria for the daily living component of PIP. Claimants will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity. This change does not alter the Department’s approach to supporting vulnerable claimants or those with complex needs through the assessment process.

We are exploring ways to improve the experience of people using the health and disability benefit system. This includes digitalising the transfer of medical information using evidence from other services to reduce the need for functional assessments for those with very severe conditions, and improving communication with claimants who are expected to remind on disability for life.

We have also launched a comprehensive review of the PIP assessment process, which I am leading. Through the review, we want to make sure the PIP assessment is fit for the future. We are currently in the first phase of this work, engaging with disabled people, organisations who support them and other experts to shape the scope, timings and approach. This will inform development of the Terms of Reference which will be published as soon as they are drawn up.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to allow veterans in receipt of the Armed Forces Independence Payment to claim the new health-related Universal Credit support. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Green Paper, “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working” announced that we would be scrapping the Work Capability Assessment and moving to a single assessment for financial support related to health and disability benefits. This single assessment will be the PIP assessment and those who are eligible for an award of Daily Living in PIP would also be able to access additional financial support in Universal Credit.

We recognise that claiming certain other benefits can impact whether or not a claimant applies for or can get PIP, including Armed Forces Independence Payment. We are currently considering how the future system will operate and will provide further information in the upcoming White Paper.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service is required to justify delays in its decision-making processes. \p Andrew Western: Child Maintenance customers can use the online service to track the progress of reported changes and view expected completion dates at any time without the need to call. They can also upload evidence and view any letters which have been sent to them. All calculation decisions made by the CMS can be appealed through the mandatory reconsideration process and beyond that, to the Independent Tribunal Service.

The CMS publishes timeliness data on some of the key decision-making processes such as determining applications, accounting for changes in circumstances and performing mandatory reconsiderations.

Decision making processes can vary in length depending upon complexity and whether both parties have a right to provide and/or contest evidence. Where customers are concerned that a decision has been delayed unreasonably, there is also a robust complaints process, which gives parents opportunities to seek redress when the CMS does not meet their expectations. When a client is dissatisfied, the CMS tries to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, without the need for a formal complaint. If the client remains dissatisfied, the Department for Work and Pensions Complaints Team looks at and responds to their complaint. After that, they can raise it with the Independent Case Examiner and finally with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, through their Member of Parliament.
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Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants who were awarded (a) at least eight but fewer than 12 points in the living component and fewer than four points in a single daily living category and (b) at least 12 points in the living component but fewer than four points in a single daily living category were (i) waiting for and (ii) receiving treatment for a physical or mental health condition on 23 June 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department does not hold data on whether Personal Independence Payment claimants are waiting for or receiving treatment for their primary medical condition.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to replace the provision of upfront childcare costs with Universal Credit with advance payments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There are currently no plans to change the way upfront childcare costs are paid. Claimants of the Universal Credit childcare element can claim upfront childcare costs through the Flexible Support Fund, to help ease them into the Universal Credit childcare costs payment cycle.

There is also help with upfront childcare costs for eligible Universal Credit customers through Budgeting Advances.
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on housing for people who use some of the money they receive from PIP towards paying their rent. \p Sir Stephen Timms: PIP provides a cash contribution to support people with the extra costs of living with a long term health condition or disability. Claimants have freedom and choice to spend their PIP as they see fit and we have been clear this should be maintained.

PIP uses a functional assessment that acts as a proxy for determining if somebody has extra costs arising from their health conditions or disabilities and the Department does not make an assessment of actual extra costs. We know from research that people use their PIP payments, pooled together with other sources of income, on a wide range of extra costs linked to their disability. Our starting point for reform has therefore been to focus PIP more on those with the greatest needs.

We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This protection is non-negotiable and is included on the face of the Bill.This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.

The Government announced through the Spending Review that Discretionary Housing Payments will be included in the new Crisis and Resilience Fund from April 2026. This will provide £842 million per year (£1 billion including Barnett consequential) to reform how crisis support is delivered locally, including to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on (a) private renters and (b) levels of homelessness. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament.

No one will lose access to PIP immediately - and most people will not lose access at all. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, 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.

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 am leading. 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.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help tackle stigma among disabled veterans claiming PIP. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The benefits system exists to support people at critical points in their lives and for a range of reasons. There should be no stigma attached to claiming a benefit you're entitled to, and people should claim social security benefits as and when their circumstances dictate.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of mandatory in-person assessments on levels of likelihood of veterans seeking support. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As announced in Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, we are planning to do more face-to-face health assessments. We will, however, preserve alternative health assessment channels to meet the specific needs of people who require a different channel, for example as a reasonable adjustment.

In all cases, the Healthcare Professional (HCP) aims to complete the assessment using the customer’s health questionnaire and any supporting medical evidence provided. Should this not be possible the customer is invited to a consultation. Before sending an invitation to a consultation, the HCP considers whether a specific assessment channel is needed due to the customer’s health or circumstances. Otherwise, customers are offered the next available appointment. Customers can request a change to their allocated assessment channel if they inform us that a reasonable adjustment is appropriate in their circumstances.

We are committed to ensuring equal access to our services, in line with the Equality Act 2010. Customers are encouraged to inform us of any reasonable adjustments at any stage. If notified, the assessment provider will consider an alternative assessment method.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support disabled veterans in Devon. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Disabled people, including disabled veterans, can access a wide range of support in Devon. Information on what support is available to them can be found on Gov.UK including these specific areas: Veterans UK - GOV.UK and Disabled people - GOV.UK.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the (a) the Secretary of State for Defence and (b) Office for Veterans’ Affairs on the potential impact of welfare reform on former service personnel. \p Sir Stephen Timms: This Government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and our mission-driven approach relies on regular cross-government collaboration. We are working across government to further consider the impacts of the Green Paper, including on veterans, and will continue to do so as the package is developed in detail. I will continue to engage closely with my Ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders throughout the consultation period and beyond.

We are also providing detailed briefings on the proposals to Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA). Once we have completed the consultation we will be building up to a White Paper, and we will continue to engage with MoD and the OVA.

We have welcomed veterans and representative organisations to respond to our Green Paper consultation to share their views on how wounded, injured and sick veterans can best be supported. To promote further engagement, we held a specific consultation event for Armed Forces and veterans’ organisations, at which I spoke, to hear their experiences and thoughts directly.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) two-child limit and (b) benefit cap on levels of child poverty among (i) children who are not eligible for (A) breakfast clubs and (B) free school meals and (ii) other children; and whether her Department plans to (1) review and (2) revise these policies. \p Alison McGovern: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. The Child Poverty Taskforce is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to ensure we deliver measures which tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.

Furthermore, as a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament, establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund supported by £1bn a year including Barnett impact, investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap.

Our commitments at the 2025 spending review come on top of the existing action we have taken which includes expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what steps she is planning to take to ensure that the £1 billion investment in employment support specifically caters to the needs of (a) injured veterans and (b) those transitioning from military service. \p Alison McGovern: We are providing tailored support to help people get into and on at work, including the biggest investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions in at least a generation - £1 billion a year by the end of the scorecard. Our Pathways to Work Guarantee will provide tailored work, health and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions claiming out of work benefits, including injured veterans.

This additional investment begins in 26/27 to ensure all those affected by the Universal Credit health element reduction and the PIP changes are offered support from one of 1000 Pathways to Work advisers. This support will include access to a conversation about needs, goals and aspirations; an offer of one-to-one follow-on support; and help to access additional work, health and skills support through dedicated programmes. These programmes include Connect to Work, which will support around 100,000 people with health conditions, complex barriers to employment or disabilities in 2026/27, Trailblazers and WorkWell, which join up health and employment support at a local level.

Additionally, veterans and military personnel will continue to have access to support services that recognise their particular needs and circumstances. These includes initiatives that help current and former Armed Forces personnel and their families. There are also Armed Forces Champions in every Jobcentre who provide specialist support to Jobcentre staff, building and maintaining relationships with local organisations and services to connect veterans and military personnel with them.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will introduce mandatory training to ensure that all benefits assessors understand the impact of military service-related (a) injuries and (b) mental health conditions on claimants who have served in the armed forces. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I have interpreted your question to refer to health professionals (HPs) who conduct Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments and Work Capability Assessments (WCA) for our assessment suppliers on behalf of the department, and not Department for Work and Pensions decision makers who make decisions on entitlement to benefit.

The Functional Assessment Service contracts require assessment suppliers to act in a manner supportive of the Armed Forces Covenant, to ensure the fair treatment of veterans and their families.

PIP assessments and WCAs are not medical consultations and do not require HPs to diagnose conditions or recommend treatment. Instead, they are functional assessments designed to evaluate how an individual’s health conditions or impairments affect their ability to carry out daily living activities and/or their capability for work.

HPs conducting assessments are trained specialists in disability analysis. Their focus is on understanding the functional impact of a claimant’s condition, rather than its clinical diagnosis. All HPs receive specific training on assessing the effects of mental health conditions and are supported by Mental Health Function Champions (MHFCs). MHFCs are experienced professionals with relevant expertise in mental health, cognitive, developmental, and learning disabilities. They are available to provide advice and support throughout the assessment process.

Additionally, HPs have access to Condition Insight Reports and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guides. These resources offer detailed clinical and functional information on a range of conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to support HPs in delivering informed assessments.

Furthermore, within the WCA core training and guidance material (CTGM) there is a CPD module titled ‘life post miliary service’. While this does not currently form part of the PIP CTGM, we do intend to make this available across the benefit strands.

On 25 June, I attended an online event with veterans, as one of the series of consultation events on the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of pensioners with a net worth of over £1 million who are eligible for pension credit. \p Torsten Bell: The Department does not collect data on individuals’ net worth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome impacted by changes to Personal Independence Payments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have committed in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill 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 PIP. This will target PIP at people who have a higher level of functional need in at least one area. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This protection is non-negotiable and is included on the face of the Bill. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.

Meanwhile, in the Green Paper we are consulting on what else is needed to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure that health and eligible care needs are met.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme will be categorised as income for means-tested benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The receipt of War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) awards is already fully ignored when calculating eligibility for Universal Credit.

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.

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 disregard them fully. Furthermore, these are legacy benefits, in the process of being replaced by Universal Credit, in which War Pensions and AFCS are ignored.

There are no plans to change the ways in which War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) awards interact with means tested benefits.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_145

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of self-employed (a) single parent lead carers and (b) all lead carers meet their Minimum Income Floor. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In March 2025, 32% of self-employed single parent lead carers on UC were earning at or above their Minimum Income Floor (MIF), compared to 31% of all self-employed lead carers on UC. This only includes claimants who are currently gainfully self-employed and have their MIF applied.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_147

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that complaints submitted online are not prematurely disregarded due to a lack of submission evidence. \p Andrew Western: Once a customer has submitted an online complaint, they will be contacted by the department regarding the issues raised, at which time the customer can offer evidence to support their complaint; therefore, no additional steps have been taken in this area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many couples meet the administrative earnings threshold for Universal Credit with (a) one parent and (b) both parents in paid employment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In March 2025, there were 418,000 couples in receipt of Universal Credit payment who met or exceeded the administrative earnings threshold. Of these, 263,000 did so with one parent earning, and the remaining 155,000 did so with two parents earning.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_149

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether veterans receiving Armed Forces Independence Payment will still qualify for the health element of Universal Credit under the new system. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Green Paper, “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working” announced that we would be scrapping the Work Capability Assessment and moving to a single assessment for financial support related to health and disability benefits. This single assessment will be the PIP assessment and those who are eligible for an award of Daily Living in PIP would also be able to access additional financial support in Universal Credit.

We recognise that claiming certain other benefits can impact whether or not a claimant applies for or can get PIP, including Armed Forces Independence Payment. We are currently considering how the future system will operate and will provide further information in the upcoming White Paper
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to raise the Local Housing Allowance. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are reviewed annually, usually at an Autumn fiscal event.

At last year’s Autumn Budget, the Secretary of State’s decision to maintain LHA at current levels for 2025/26 was taken after a range of factors were considered, including rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, rate increases in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25, and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the fiscal context.

For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_152

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the PIP assessments are not impacted by illnesses which frequently vary in severity. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The PIP criteria consider an individual’s ability over a 12-month period, ensuring that fluctuations are taken into account. The assessment looks at how a long-term health condition or disability impacts daily life across 12 activities, and considers whether each activity can be completed safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time period.

The assessment is designed to reflect the impact of variations in an individual's needs for all health conditions, not only those which more typically fluctuate. Health professionals are trained to consider a wide range of physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments. Case Managers give due consideration to all available evidence when making PIP decisions.

We set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper our intention to improve the experience for people who use the system of health and disability benefits, including a move to recording our assessments as standard. We want to build greater trust with claimants, and we intend to bring this proposal forward as soon as we are able.

We have also launched a review of the PIP assessment, which I am leading. Through the review, we want to make sure the PIP assessment is fit for the future. We have now begun the first phase of this review, during which I am speaking to stakeholders to gather views on how best to approach the review. As soon as the Terms of Reference have been drawn up, they will be published.