Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of local public transport networks on people's ability to access alternative jobcentres in the event that Jobcentre Plus office closures in Glasgow go ahead.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The department is committed to retaining an accessible Jobcentre network and continuing to serve customers in all areas of the country. Travel time by public transport is one of a number of factors that have informed our proposals for our future Jobcentre network. Where we propose to close a Jobcentre, customers will be advised on alternative Jobcentre locations, taking into account access to public transport. The equality analysis and public consultation will help establish people’s ability to access services from alternative Jobcentre locations.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect that additional travelling will have on individuals with mobility problems in the event that the Jobcentre Plus office closures in Glasgow go ahead.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We will be undertaking an equality analysis as part of the detailed planning for service reconfiguration. This will include feedback from public consultation in those locations where this applies.
The equality analysis and public consultation will help establish any impacts that additional travel will have on customers and inform decisions about additional provision, such as Outreach services. Current guidance makes alternative provision for those with mobility problems if they have a mental or physical disability, which restricts their mobility.
.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has conducted an Equality Impact Assessment to evaluate the effect that the closure of Jobcentre Plus offices will have in Glasgow.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We will be undertaking an equality analysis as part of the detailed planning for service reconfiguration. This will include feedback from public consultation in those locations where this applies.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that adult and young carers who provide unpaid care receive the carer's allowance and other benefits they are entitled to.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Carer’s Allowance is paid to informal carers who meet the qualifying conditions, which include being over the age of 16 and providing care for at least 35 hours a week for a person with a disability who is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Over 785,000 carers in Great Britain, including around 70,000 in Scotland, currently receive Carer’s Allowance. Carer’s Allowance can be claimed online, and around three quarters of carers submit their claims this way. Since the online service was launched, nearly 700,000 claims have been made this way, with feedback from claimants showing that more than nine out of ten are satisfied with the service. Financial support for carers is also available through Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
As more employers understand the value of retaining their employees, and as flexible working becomes more widely available, it is increasingly important to allow carers to balance their caring responsibilities with paid employment. To help with this we will be publishing proposals on carers’ employment in our Fuller Working Lives Strategy in the new year; rolling out Universal Credit to ensure work pays for all people, including carers; and increasing the earnings limit in Carer’s Allowance from £110 to £116 a week from April 2017.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people providing unpaid care in securing and keeping (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Carer’s Allowance is paid to informal carers who meet the qualifying conditions, which include being over the age of 16 and providing care for at least 35 hours a week for a person with a disability who is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Over 785,000 carers in Great Britain, including around 70,000 in Scotland, currently receive Carer’s Allowance. Carer’s Allowance can be claimed online, and around three quarters of carers submit their claims this way. Since the online service was launched, nearly 700,000 claims have been made this way, with feedback from claimants showing that more than nine out of ten are satisfied with the service. Financial support for carers is also available through Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
As more employers understand the value of retaining their employees, and as flexible working becomes more widely available, it is increasingly important to allow carers to balance their caring responsibilities with paid employment. To help with this we will be publishing proposals on carers’ employment in our Fuller Working Lives Strategy in the new year; rolling out Universal Credit to ensure work pays for all people, including carers; and increasing the earnings limit in Carer’s Allowance from £110 to £116 a week from April 2017.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of the estate is in use at the Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Shettleston, (b) Easterhouse, (c) Parkhead, (d) Bridgeton, (e) Castlemilk, (f) Langside, (g) Newlands, (h) Anniesland, (i) Partick, (j) Maryhill, (k) Springburn, (l) Cambuslang and (m) Rutherglen.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Since 1998 the Department occupies the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME contract. Under the terms of this 20-year PFI, the Department contracts to occupy fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner, Telereal Trillium.
The following percentages represent the utilisation of these buildings: (a) Shettleston 22%, (b) Easterhouse 25%, (c) Parkhead 46%, (d) Bridgeton 37%, (e) Castlemilk 57%, (f) Langside 64%, (g) Newlands 62%, (h) Anniesland 30%, (i) Partick 32%, (j) Maryhill 32%, (k) Springburn 46%, (l) Cambuslang 96% and (m) Rutherglen 54%.
Even though the department does not fully occupy the space it has, it still pays for 100% of it through the PFI arrangements. Our aim is to make more efficient use of this space to reduce our estate costs going forward.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had on what dates with the landlords of the Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Shettleston, (b) Parkhead and (c) Easterhouse on the closure of Jobcentre Plus offices in Glasgow.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Since 1998 the Department has occupied the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME contract. Under the terms of this 20 year PFI, the department contracts to occupy fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner, Telereal Trillium.
The leases for the buildings in question are included within the provisions of this PFI arrangement and are therefore not held directly by the department. As such, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has had no discussions with the landlords of a) Shettleston, (b) Parkhead and (c) Easterhouse Jobcentre Plus offices.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who the respective landlords are of the Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Shettleston, (b) Parkhead and (c) Easterhouse.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Since 1998 the Department occupies the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME contract. Under the terms of this 20-year PFI, the Department contracts to occupy fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner, Telereal Trillium.
The leases for the buildings in question are included within the provisions of this PFI arrangement and are therefore not held by DWP. Therefore we are unable to supply the information you have requested.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) low, fair and transparent charges and (b) robust standards in auto-enrolment schemes; and if he will ensure the good governance and fair conversion of pension provision in such schemes into income.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Automatic enrolment will give around 11 million people the opportunity to save into a workplace pension scheme, all of which must meet qualifying criteria and minimum requirements. The Government is committed to ensuring that the schemes into which savers are automatically enrolled are well run and protected from high and unfair charges. In April 2015 we introduced a 0.75% default fund charge cap and placed new governance requirements on trustees and Independent Governance Committees (IGCs) to consider the value for money of the costs and charges faced by scheme members.
We continue to work to improve the transparency of costs and charges. Asset managers will be required to disclose costs to trustees and IGCs, and regulations will require publication of costs and charges. In 2017, we will be reviewing automatic enrolment including the quality requirements for pension schemes and how the certification requirements (which allow employers to use existing pension schemes to meet their automatic enrolment duties) are working. We will ban member-borne commission charges in occupational pension schemes used for automatic enrolment and also review the level of the default fund charge cap.
To support members taking advantage of the pension freedoms we will set a cap on early exit charges at 1% for existing members of occupational pension schemes and a ban on these charges for new members of occupational pension schemes (subject to Parliamentary approval) in October 2017. The Government continues to monitor the pensions landscape and will take action where appropriate to ensure that pension scheme members are treated fairly when they seek to access their pension savings.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has put in place to support self-employed people to save into a pension; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The self-employed can chose to save into pension schemes such as NEST and attract tax relief on their contributions. Further information and guidance on pension savings options can also be found through organisations like the Pensions Advisory Service and the Money Advice Service. However, the Government is aware that, while overall pension participation is rising, participation in pension schemes among the self-employed has not had a similar experience. We also recognise that self-employment is growing, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to save for a secure future.
In 2017, the Government will be reviewing automatic enrolment - our key private pension reform - to ensure that it continues to work for employers and individuals. The position of the self-employed and other people who do not come within automatic enrolment deserves attention. I will be announcing the scope of the review before the end of the year.