Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what alternative progression routes he plans to put in place for experienced staff affected by the cut to Level 7 apprenticeship funding who cannot afford postgraduate study but are expected to operate at senior professional or leadership level.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and is determined to tackle the 40% fall in apprenticeship starts by young people aged under 25 that we’ve seen over the last decade.
Since January 2026, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will enable apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers. Level 7 apprentices that started before 1 January 2026 will continue to be funded through to completion.
The government is encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK. There are also alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with employers on the level of support for retention, succession planning and productivity for jobs affected by the potential impact of changes to eligibility to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships from 1 January 2026.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member for North Durham to the answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88252.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in Skills Bootcamp funding on (a) regional labour markets with nationally significant infrastructure projects under active construction, with particular reference to Somerset and Hinkley Point C, and (b) the ability of local employers to meet workforce requirements for projects of strategic importance to the UK's energy security and industrial strategy.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington to the answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 113869.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is responsible for registering liability orders with Registry Trust Limited.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.
When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.
Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.
The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a justice of the peace is required to issue a summons before the Child Maintenance Service makes an application for a liability order.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.
When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.
Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.
The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service issues summons documents without the involvement of a justice of the peace.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.
When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.
Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.
The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average and (b) longest recorded wait time was on his Department's bereavement line in each year between 2021 and 2026.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The below table shows the Average Time to Answer and Maximum Time to Answer for all calls to Bereavement Services in an hours, minutes and seconds format (hh:mm:ss), itemised by each of the requested Reporting Years.
Please note, that the current *2025 – 2026 reporting year, shows data up to and including 22/02/2026 only.
Reporting Year | Product Line | Average Time to Answer (hh:mm:ss) | Maximum Time to Answer (hh:mm:ss) |
2021-2022 | Bereavement Services | 00:06:36 | 01:26:43 |
2022-2023 | Bereavement Services | 00:07:32 | 01:33:00 |
2023-2024 | Bereavement Services | 00:06:32 | 01:04:58 |
2024-2025 | Bereavement Services | 00:07:53 | 01:55:07 |
2025-2026* | Bereavement Services | 00:06:02 | 00:50:59 |
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in the past year what has the average time been for the Child Maintenance Service to obtain a verified address for a paying parent once a caseworker identifies that one is missing; and what processes are in place to minimise delays where child maintenance arrears are accruing.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to ensuring parents meet their financial obligations to their children. Where a paying parent fails to take responsibility for paying their child maintenance and cannot be traced, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will take immediate action and do everything within its powers to trace the paying parent. In addition to information provided by parents, CMS undertakes a series of trace checks to verify the paying parent’s address. These checks draw on several approved information sources, including; cross government databases, real time information from HM Revenue & Customs, credit reference agencies, employers and Local Authorities.
The CMS have a range of strong enforcement powers that can be used against those parents who consistently refuse to meet or evade their obligations to provide financial support to their children. We are committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families to ensure compliance.
The statistical information requested in not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Child Maintenance Service takes to (a) verify and (b) obtain up‑to‑date addresses for paying parents in cases where enforcement action cannot proceed due to the absence of a confirmed address.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to ensuring parents meet their financial obligations to their children. Where a paying parent fails to take responsibility for paying their child maintenance and cannot be traced, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will take immediate action and do everything within its powers to trace the paying parent. In addition to information provided by parents, CMS undertakes a series of trace checks to verify the paying parent’s address. These checks draw on several approved information sources, including; cross government databases, real time information from HM Revenue & Customs, credit reference agencies, employers and Local Authorities.
The CMS have a range of strong enforcement powers that can be used against those parents who consistently refuse to meet or evade their obligations to provide financial support to their children. We are committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families to ensure compliance.
The statistical information requested in not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to provide bereavement support to families grieving loved ones that passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment provides support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. It supports families though the immediate period of grief, including those who sadly lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps eligibility of all benefits under review.