Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Direct Deduction Orders have been issues since the introduction of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error, and Recovery) Act 2025 achieved Royal Assent on Tuesday 2 December 2025. The Act will help to address the significant challenge of public sector fraud and error, which costs the taxpayer billions of pounds annually.
The different measures contained in the Act are due to come into force across different dates between 2026 and 2029.
Whilst the Debt measures contained in the Act commenced in June 2026, the supporting regulations which will further develop the operational framework for the new recovery powers introduced in the Act will not come into force until October. As a result, to date, no direct deduction orders have been issued.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking with (a) Skills England, (b) employers and (c) trade unions to help increase the (i) range and (ii) uptake of seafarer apprenticeships in maritime communities.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of maritime apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce and in creating opportunities for people in maritime communities to enter rewarding careers at sea. Skills England works with employers and sector bodies to develop and maintain a range of maritime apprenticeship standards, ensuring they reflect employer needs.
To increase apprenticeship opportunities, the Government is introducing a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy paying employers who recruit 16 to 24-year-olds as new apprentice employees. In addition, apprenticeship training is now fully funded for all eligible under-25s at employers of all sizes, helping more young people access opportunities in sectors such as maritime.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that small hair salons can continue to train young people as apprentices.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are a number of apprenticeship standards available to support the hair and beauty sector, including the Level 2 Hairdressing Professional standard and the Level 2 Barbering Professional standard.
To support non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, to meet the additional costs associated with employing young people as apprentices, we are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.
We also provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care.
These payments can be added together where the employer and/or apprentice are eligible.
Additionally, the government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, as we prioritise funding toward young people.
These measures are backed by £1 billion of additional funding for the Growth and Skills Levy to support our ambition for 50,000 more young people to start apprenticeships.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the reported 70% decline in apprenticeships in the hairdressing sector.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are a number of apprenticeship standards available to support the hair and beauty sector, including the Level 2 Hairdressing Professional standard and the Level 2 Barbering Professional standard.
To support non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, to meet the additional costs associated with employing young people as apprentices, we are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.
We also provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care.
These payments can be added together where the employer and/or apprentice are eligible.
Additionally, the government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, as we prioritise funding toward young people.
These measures are backed by £1 billion of additional funding for the Growth and Skills Levy to support our ambition for 50,000 more young people to start apprenticeships.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department were on permanent home working contracts in 2025.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As at 31 December 2025, there were 1,684 paid employees in the Department for Work and Pensions recorded as Contracted Homeworkers. This represented 1.79% of the Department's total workforce. These are typically temporary arrangements and are reviewed regularly.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the 40 benefit-related investigations reported in the Department for Work and Pensions Annual Report and Accounts 2025–26 resulted in (a) dismissal, (b) referral to the police and (c) criminal proceedings.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government Internal Audit Agency undertakes independent, internal disciplinary investigations on behalf of the DWP into allegations of internal fraud and other serious misconduct.
Of the 40 benefit-related investigations completed by GIAA in 2025-26, 39 related to DWP employees and one related to an individual employed by an outsourced provider.
To avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations and to comply with data protection obligations, the Department is unable to provide further information on individual cases, including details of the benefits involved, the nature of the misconduct, the number of claimants affected, disciplinary outcomes, criminal referrals, criminal proceedings, or amounts recovered or written off.
Information relating to any successful criminal convictions becomes publicly available through the courts.
The Department takes its responsibility for protecting the public purse extremely seriously and seeks to recover losses arising from internal fraud wherever possible. The Department has a range of debt recovery powers available, including recovery of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the 40 benefit-related investigations reported in the Department for Work and Pensions Annual Report and Accounts 2025–26 involved (a) employees, (b) contractors and (c) providers.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government Internal Audit Agency undertakes independent, internal disciplinary investigations on behalf of the DWP into allegations of internal fraud and other serious misconduct.
Of the 40 benefit-related investigations completed by GIAA in 2025-26, 39 related to DWP employees and one related to an individual employed by an outsourced provider.
To avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations and to comply with data protection obligations, the Department is unable to provide further information on individual cases, including details of the benefits involved, the nature of the misconduct, the number of claimants affected, disciplinary outcomes, criminal referrals, criminal proceedings, or amounts recovered or written off.
Information relating to any successful criminal convictions becomes publicly available through the courts.
The Department takes its responsibility for protecting the public purse extremely seriously and seeks to recover losses arising from internal fraud wherever possible. The Department has a range of debt recovery powers available, including recovery of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for a breakdown by (a) benefit and (b) type of misconduct of the 40 benefit-related investigations reported in the Department for Work and Pensions Annual Report and Accounts 2025–26.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government Internal Audit Agency undertakes independent, internal disciplinary investigations on behalf of the DWP into allegations of internal fraud and other serious misconduct.
Of the 40 benefit-related investigations completed by GIAA in 2025-26, 39 related to DWP employees and one related to an individual employed by an outsourced provider.
To avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations and to comply with data protection obligations, the Department is unable to provide further information on individual cases, including details of the benefits involved, the nature of the misconduct, the number of claimants affected, disciplinary outcomes, criminal referrals, criminal proceedings, or amounts recovered or written off.
Information relating to any successful criminal convictions becomes publicly available through the courts.
The Department takes its responsibility for protecting the public purse extremely seriously and seeks to recover losses arising from internal fraud wherever possible. The Department has a range of debt recovery powers available, including recovery of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Skills England undertakes structured engagement with employers in the aviation sector before the proposed retirement of apprenticeship standards.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of aviation apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on the proposal to retire certain occupational standards, often due to low levels of new starts or a range of delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. The potential impact on youth employment and skills development opportunities will form part of the assessment of consultation responses.
As an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. Skills England reviews standards to ensure that they continue to meet employer need. The current consultation is still live, and no final decision has been taken. Aviation sector stakeholders have been engaged throughout, and we will continue to work closely with them throughout the process.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 potential impact of proposals to retire aviation apprenticeship standards for certain posts on (a) youth employment and (b) opportunities for skills expansion.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of aviation apprenticeships in helping employers develop a skilled workforce. Skills England is consulting with stakeholders on the proposal to retire certain occupational standards, often due to low levels of new starts or a range of delivery challenges, including limited provider availability. The potential impact on youth employment and skills development opportunities will form part of the assessment of consultation responses.
As an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. Skills England reviews standards to ensure that they continue to meet employer need. The current consultation is still live, and no final decision has been taken. Aviation sector stakeholders have been engaged throughout, and we will continue to work closely with them throughout the process.