Topical Questions 2023-03-06

2023-03-06

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Bob Blackman Con
Harrow East
Context
The basic state pension is set to increase by 10.1%, and the household support fund will receive an additional £842 million.
I welcome my right hon Friend's announcements. The extra £842 million for the household support fund, of which Harrow will receive £3 million, is extremely welcome. Could he update the House on what monitoring is taking place so that best practice is followed across the country and that the money that the Government are allocating reaches the most vulnerable?
Almost £3 million from the household support fund will go to Harrow, on top of the £7.4 million that its local authority will receive in total. We monitor closely how the money is administered to ensure maximum effect by liaising with local authorities.
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Q2 Partial Answer
Bob Blackman Con
Harrow East
Context
There is concern about the impact of raising the state pension age and whether it is driven by cost-cutting measures.
Does the Secretary of State understand that expediting the rise in the state pension age is less about life expectancy, which according to ONS data is arrested, and more about a cost-cutting measure for the Treasury? What representations has he made to the Chancellor on this issue before next week's Budget?
The hon. Gentleman is prejudging outcomes. Life expectancy, regional impact, fiscal considerations, fairness between generations, and healthy life expectancy are important metrics.
Assessment & feedback
Specific representations to the Chancellor about raising state pension age as a cost-cutting measure were not addressed directly.
Prejudging Outcomes
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Q3 Partial Answer
Context
The government has increased the state pension by more than 10% in April.
I warmly welcome the Government's decision to increase the state pension by more than 10% in April. Does my right hon Friend agree that we should encourage private provision alongside state provision? What conversations have his Department had with the Treasury about extending the lifetime allowance or annual allowance for pensions, and anything further on auto-enrolment?
The Bill introduced by my hon Friend passed Second Reading on Friday. It will bring 18 to 22-year-olds into automatic enrolment for the first time, ensuring people are saving from their first pound earned.
Assessment & feedback
Questions about discussions with the Treasury were not addressed; instead, a different bill was discussed.
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Context
A constituent contacted about the lack of reasonable adjustments at a local jobcentre for people with mental health or cognitive difficulties.
A constituent recently contacted me about the lack of reasonable adjustments in place at the local jobcentre for those with mental health or cognitive difficulties. How do Ministers plan to improve staff awareness and the reasonable adjustments offering?
I am grateful for the issue raised. I expect teams to be responsive to needs for reasonable adjustments. Perhaps she could share details of specific experiences so that I can look into them.
Assessment & feedback
Specific plans for improving staff awareness were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
Many constituents are concerned about PIP assessments being conducted over the phone rather than in-person.
Can my hon Friend provide an assessment of how personal independence payment appointments are being administered? Many constituents have contacted me to say that they are still having claims processed over the phone rather than at an in-person appointment. I am sure he agrees that in-person appointments are vital to ensuring that our constituents get the right level of support.
Regardless of form taken by PIP assessments, structure is same. Evidence suggests both forms equally effective, but I hope can reassure my hon Friend that individuals wanting in-person assessment can have it.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific reasons why some claimants are still having phone appointments.
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Robbie Moore Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Context
In Bath and North East Somerset, the gap between local housing allowance and rent for a three-bedroom property is nearly £4,000.
The gap between local housing allowance and rent in Bath and North East Somerset is nearly £4,000. My inbox is full of emails from desperate families on low incomes who are being squeezed out of living in Bath. Will the Secretary of State unfreeze the local housing allowance so that benefits align better with rent?
The Government are projected to spend £30 billion on support for renters. Approximately £100 million has been allocated for the discretionary housing payment in 2023-24 to help local authorities top up from their own funding.
Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly address unfreezing the local housing allowance.
Response accuracy
Q7 Direct Answer
Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem
Bath
Context
A constituent who has been working since age 16 and is now in his mid-40s awaits major surgery, struggling to navigate the welfare system.
My constituent who has worked full-time since he was 16 and is now in his mid-40s awaits major surgery. For people like him, navigating the complex welfare system for the first time can be difficult and worrying. Does my hon Friend agree on the importance of clear advice about welfare benefits to remove financial worries? Will he outline support available for high-quality occupational health to help them get back to work?
I wholeheartedly agree with my hon Friend. The Department offers support through disability employment advisers who work alongside all work coaches to help customers find the right support, especially those with disabilities or health conditions.
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Q8 Partial Answer
Tan Dhesi Lab
Slough
Context
The National Audit Office found in late 2022 that levels of benefit fraud and error were £8.6 billion for the year, described as 'unacceptably high'.
At the end of last year, the National Audit Office found that levels of benefit fraud and error were 'unacceptably high', totalling £8.6 billion for the year. How exactly will the Secretary of State reduce benefit fraud and error and claw back this appalling waste of taxpayers' money?
I would argue that the Public Accounts Committee report does not reflect the steps we took, including 2,000 extra officials on targeted case reviews with 2 million cases in universal credit.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify how exactly to reduce benefit fraud and error or recover £8.6 billion.
Response accuracy
Q9 Direct Answer
Context
Staff at Longton jobcentre reported additional support to help the over-50s back into work.
I know from speaking to staff at Longton jobcentre that additional support has been put in place to help the over-50s back into work. Will the Minister update the House on what more is being done to upskill adults and help more of them to get back into work, especially in Stoke-on-Trent?
My hon. Friend will be aware of the 50-plus champions, the midlife MOT, sector-based work academies, skills bootcamps specifically for over-50s; Port Vale football club held a recent jobs fair attended by 1,400 customers, including many over-50s, with 600 job offers and 100 employers present.
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Q10 Partial Answer
Chi Onwurah Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Context
The north-east has strengths in growing sectors such as battery technology, green energy, and life sciences. It is argued that nationally controlled training programmes cannot support people adequately.
As the recent Britishvolt investment shows, the north-east has real strengths in growing sectors such as battery technology, green energy, and life sciences. Does the Minister agree that it is not possible for nationally controlled training programmes to really support people into employment in these emerging sectors? Will he therefore devolve responsibility to those in local areas who know local skills and local opportunities?
Local DWP jobcentres work hand in glove with local employers. It is very different in Banff and Brixton, for instance; that's what we do with sector-based work academies, skills bootcamps, innovation pilots on a local basis in each individual jobcentre.
Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the question about devolving responsibility.
Response accuracy
Q11 Direct Answer
Context
Companies in the area are short of young people for employment in engineering.
I co-chair the all-party parliamentary engineering group. One of our objectives is to get young people to consider taking up employment in engineering. A number of companies in my area, for example, are short of young people. What more can the Government do to make young people aware of the excellent opportunities that exist in engineering?
We are focused, across Government, on helping young people become involved in STEM projects and careers; a new science and technology framework was announced today. DWP Train and Progress helps claimants take advantage of the bootcamps run by the Department for Education.
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Q12 Partial Answer
Justin Madders Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Context
A constituent facing consequences of an overpayment in employment and support allowance is unable to show that she gave the Department correct information.
Further to the question from the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), I have a constituent who is facing the consequences of an overpayment in employment and support allowance. She has been able to show that she gave the Department the correct information time and again, but according to the Department, that is not relevant to whether she should pay the full sum. If the Department is not subject to any comeback after making mistakes, how will it ever improve?
It is important to note that official error loss fell from 1.3% in 2019-20 to 0.7% in 2021-22. We work constructively with individuals to identify appropriate repayment plans; I expect officials to work constructively, taking account of financial circumstances.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address how the Department will improve after making mistakes.
Response accuracy
Q13 Direct Answer
Context
The Minister is taking steps to raise employers' awareness of the impact of the menopause.
What steps is the Minister taking to raise employers' awareness of the impact of the menopause?
I know that my hon. Friend takes great interest in supporting women in work, and working with employers is crucial. I am delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Tomlinson as the DWP menopause employment champion.
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Q14 Partial Answer
Context
Research shows local housing allowance is not a solution to the cost of living and housing crises for low-income families due to its freeze since 2020.
Research conducted by the Bevan Foundation has established that local housing allowance is not a solution to the cost of living and housing crises for families on low incomes and for the most vulnerable because it is too low, and has been frozen since 2020 while private rental costs have soared. Will the UK Government help those in need and uprate the allowance?
We recognise that rents are increasing, and a challenging fiscal environment means we need to support people effectively. We have announced a support package for vulnerable households, including help through the household support fund.
Assessment & feedback
Did not mention uprating local housing allowance.
Response accuracy
Q15 Direct Answer
Context
There are businesses in the constituency that do a brilliant job in recruiting young adults.
There are some notable and fantastic businesses in my constituency, including Argus Fire and Pegasus, which do a brilliant job in recruiting young adults and providing career opportunities. What more can the Department do to bridge the gap between employers and young adults and create that one-stop opportunity for 16-year-olds to find employment?
I am very supportive of getting young people into work. The Dudley youth hub is a classic example of the Department's working in partnership locally, providing a single location for employers to engage with under-25s from Stourbridge and the wider area.
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Q16 Partial Answer
Context
PCS union members in Scotland face underfunding, with civil servants reportedly using food banks.
Public and Commercial Services Union members in Scotland get a raw deal from this Government on pay, with many civil servants themselves using food banks. When will the Government give them a proper pay rise?
We are engaged in positive discussions with the PCS, and it has been pointed out that many people working in the DWP are on the national living wage, which will increase by 9.7% in April.
Assessment & feedback
Specific timeframe for a proper pay rise not provided
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Context
The Access to Work programme plays an important role in the job market for people with disabilities.
Working with Disability Action Yorkshire, I have observed the growing importance of people with disabilities in the jobs market. What is being done to promote the Access to Work programme among employers?
We work to promote those schemes through social media, stakeholders, local employer partnership teams and associations, and the Disability Confident scheme. I welcome opportunities to spread word further.
Assessment & feedback
Specific measures for promotion not detailed
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Q18 Direct Answer
Context
Mortons Rolls, a popular business in the constituency, ceased trading, putting 250 jobs at risk.
A popular business in my constituency, Mortons Rolls, has ceased trading, putting 250 jobs at risk. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss support for this business and its staff?
We have measures like local surge support, job matching. I will ask the Employment Minister to meet her urgently.
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Q19 Partial Answer
Context
Concern about the progress of Access to Work programme and the implementation of the disability action plan.
Echoing concern for Access to Work, can you update us on the disability action plan's progress and ensure effective work across Government?
We are assembling ministerial disability champions, consulting disabled people, then delivering the plan over 18 months to two years for quick wins.
Assessment & feedback
Specific progress details not provided
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Q20 Direct Answer
Context
25% of people leave work without a workplace pension in place, highlighting the importance of automatic pension enrolment.
I want to thank the Pensions Minister for her hard work on lowering automatic pension enrolment age and earnings. Does she agree that 25% leaving work without pensions is concerning? How important is my Bill for this issue?
My hon. Friend's brilliant Bill will help women, lowest paid and part-time workers in Stoke-on-Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke.
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