Topical Questions

Answer from Therese Coffey

Our Homes for Ukraine scheme was formally opened for applications on Friday, with more than 150,000 Britons registering their interest. Ukrainian evacuees coming to this country are able to access DWP benefits, support and services from day one, and jobcentres will be helping people to find and move into employment, with assistance from an assigned work coach. Extra support will be available through our flexible support fund.

Answer from Therese Coffey

My hon. Friend is right to praise the young people in his constituency who have started their careers thanks to kickstart. Way to Work will build on our success in bringing employers and claimants together in jobcentres so that we can try to fill local vacancies, and will ensure that when candidates do not succeed in getting job interviews, they receive the feedback much more quickly. We will continue to try to directly address the barriers to entering roles in social care through job fairs and informed campaigns.

Answer from Therese Coffey

We still have the household support fund, which is available for people to apply to, to get extra support from their local council. I encourage people who are struggling right now to make that approach to their council as quickly as possible.

Answer from Therese Coffey

As was explained at the time of the emergency legislation, the increase in earnings was a statistical anomaly due to the impacts of covid. That is why the Opposition supported the Bill right through this House on its very first day—

Answer from Mims Davies

I thank my hon. Friend for that question, which I think will interest the hon. Member for Wirral South (Alison McGovern) as well. From April this year, our new DWP in-work progression offer will support working universal credit claimants to progress and increase their earnings. It will include better support to upskill and retrain, and low-paid workers are eligible for training funded by the Department for Education via skills boot camps in digital engineering and the green sectors.

Answer from Therese Coffey

The hon. Lady raises an important point. All parents automatically go into the direct payment process. I am working with my noble Friend Baroness Stedman-Scott, the Minister who has direct responsibility for this portfolio, to see what more we can do to accelerate reform if people are clearly not being compliant and not paying. Meanwhile, our financial investigations unit will investigate where people are hiding money and, if necessary, take them to court to ensure that the money gets paid.

Answer from Mims Davies

I am going to try, Mr Speaker. That may be a devolved issue, but I would point out that many employers in Wales have been putting on transportation to bring workers in. That has been happening particularly in Ynys Môn—in Anglesey—to support production there. Working with the jobcentre to put on suitable transport makes a difference in getting people into work too.

Answer from Guy Opperman

The state pension has increased by over 5% in the past two years. There is £5 billion worth of pension credit available, and the Chancellor's package for energy bills amounts to £9.1 billion. I encourage constituents to apply for these benefits.

Answer from Mims Davies

There are currently over 1.2 million vacancies. People are better off in work than on benefits, and we need to help people change their lives through the Way to Work programme at jobcentres.

Answer from Guy Opperman

I urge constituents to contact their local authority for access to funds. There is £9.1 billion from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities fund and efforts are being made on multiple fronts.

Answer from Mims Davies

Our Department is committed to supporting staff and customers. We are working directly with affected employees, using hybrid practices to retain them and provide better working experiences.

Answer from Therese Coffey

My hon. Friends have set out different types of support available. We will continue to look at opportunities to help people, and I encourage constituents to access the local council's household support fund.

Answer from Mims Davies

This move is about turning opportunities into larger hubs, offering better career prospects. People will work two days a week nearby and have hybrid working arrangements to support their needs.

Answer from Therese Coffey

The hon. Lady raises an important point. I am confident that my Department and officials will undertake their duties carefully and considerately, responding to local investigations by social services and learning from broader themes through the Serious Case Panel.

Answer from Mims Davies

The Minister addresses concerns about job losses, emphasizing the importance of staff consultation and embracing hybrid working. She mentions more than 920 buildings housing 168,000 people and highlights back-office function retention.

Answer from David Rutley

The uprating was in line with inflation as calculated since 1987. Additional support is available through the Chancellor's three-part plan and the household support fund.

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Minister mentions a successful jobs fair in Blackpool South. The intensive work search regime enforces claimants looking for and accepting available work.

Answer from Guy Opperman

We already have an engagement strategy with key organizations. Pension credit take-up has increased by 3%, and we are making the case for claims to carers or family members on behalf of others.

Answer from Guy Opperman

The Minister hopes a local paper letter explains the importance of claiming pension credit for vulnerable individuals. He encourages constituents to claim because it is serious money that could help them.

Answer from Therese Coffey

My hon. Friend the Pensions Minister has already set out the huge number of ways that we are trying to increase awareness. I think it is accurate to say, from internal management information, that we have seen a 30% increase in people applying, so we are encouraging take-up. The lowest proportion of pensioners taking up such things are those with an income above the basic state pension who are still entitled to savings credit, and we need to work harder on that.

Answer from Therese Coffey

The hon. Lady has been working with my hon. Friend the Pensions Minister on a Bill that will hopefully succeed in the upper House, and she will know that we are working through several avenues to try to increase take-up. The warm home discount will be going up later this year, and we estimate that the number of people who will qualify for the increase in the discount will go up by a third.

Answer from Therese Coffey

No one is sanctioning anybody here today. I was just pointing out how efficient this ministerial team is, which reflects the effective work that we do on the behalf of claimants across the country.