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Written Question
Workplace Pensions
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will consider making provision for mandatory index-linked payments in pre-1997 defined benefit pension schemes.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Members of these pension schemes are understandably concerned at seeing inflation erode the value of their retirement income.

Most schemes do pay some pre-1997 indexation, because of scheme rules or as a discretionary benefit. Analysis published last year by the Pensions Regulator shows that as of March 2023, only 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits. This information can be found at: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#f3a5fe60511a445f91112bd7dd8a64ae

It would be unreasonable to retrospectively legislate to increase the cost to schemes for benefits already earned, as these costs could not have been taken into account in the funding assumptions used to set contribution rates at the time.

The Government’s pension reforms on the use of surpluses in defined benefit schemes will make it easier for individual schemes to make decisions that improve outcomes for both sponsoring employers and members, which could include discretionary benefit increases. These changes are being taken forward through the Pension Schemes Bill which had its second reading on Monday 7th July.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has expressed that trustees should consider the situation of those members who would benefit from a discretionary increase and whether the scheme has a history of making such awards. TPR will be producing further guidance on surplus sharing once the legislation is in place.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Women
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to enter into alternative dispute resolution following confirmation of the Judicial Review into the reasons the Government decided not to pay compensation to women born in the 1950s impacted by her Department's maladministration of State Pension age changes.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government has apologised for the maladministration and committed to learning the lessons from the investigation. The decision not to set up a compensation scheme is now subject to live litigation and the High Court has granted permission for a full hearing.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Women
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of women born in the 1950s who have died since 17 December 2024.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department has no such assessment.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Expenditure
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment she has made of the level of spending as a proportion of GDP on the state pension (a) other European nations, (b) other developed economies and (c) the UK.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

It is difficult to make comprehensive direct comparisons between different countries’ spending on State Pensions as a proportion of GDP because there are many fundamental differences in the types of system and the wider social and economic contexts. There are many factors to take into account such as different tax systems, cost of living, access to occupational pensions and their taxation treatment plus the availability of healthcare free at the point of use, other social security benefits and the provision of services and goods free to pensioners or at concessionary rates.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Migrants
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Richard Tice (Reform UK - Boston and Skegness)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was paid in State Pension to people not born in the United Kingdom in (a) the most recent year for which data is available and (b) in each of the previous five years.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department does not hold information on the country of birth of individuals in receipt of the State Pension. State Pension eligibility is determined by an individual’s National Insurance record.


Written Question
Employment: Beer and Public Houses
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the role (a) pubs and (b) brewers play on the provision of (i) first jobs and (ii) early career opportunities for young people.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We recognise that the pub and brewery industry is an important part of the Hospitality sector, and that it provides good prospects for young people to start their career. DWP’s Strategic Relationship Team actively works with trade bodies, including the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), to promote opportunities to support individuals looking for work.

From April 2021 to March 2025 a fifth of all participants in DWP Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) were young people aged 16 to 24 years old. We know that SWAPs are successful at getting people into work, which is why as part of the expansion to 100,000 starts in 2025/26, we have been working with UK Hospitality on the roll-out of Hospitality SWAPs in 26 areas, including 13 coastal towns such as Scarborough and Blackpool. This will ensure young people have the best support to gain employment in the sector, as part of our wider reforms to get Britain working.

The Department understands the negative effects of unemployment are particularly pronounced for young people and can have longstanding implications on their future earnings and life chances. This is why DWP have a particular focus on ensuring young people are supported into employment.

DWP currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners


Written Question
Personal Independence Payment
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the proportion of Personal Independence Payment claimants who were below the poverty line on 4 July 2025.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Estimates of the proportion of Personal Independence Payment claimants below the poverty line in July 2025 are not available. Estimates for the 2025/26 financial year are due to be published in March 2027 as part of the “Households Below Average Income” publication. The most recent publication covers the 2023/24 financial year and can be found here: Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2024 - GOV.UK

Statistics on the number of individuals living in families where at least one member is in receipt of Personal Independence Payment that are in Absolute and/or Relative Poverty in 2023/24 are published on Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/) in the Households Below Average Income dataset.


Written Question
Personal Independence Payment: Neurodiversity
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Phil Brickell (Labour - Bolton West)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of how a private diagnosis of (a) Autism and (b) ADHD in children will be taken into account in future PIP assessments when those children are adults.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment is based on the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, rather than focusing solely on the health condition itself.

When making decisions on PIP, DWP case managers consider all available evidence including that from treating health professionals. Claimants are encouraged to provide supporting information, and the claim form details the type of evidence that is useful to provide.


Written Question
Lithium: Safety
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) the Health and Safety Executive’s assessment of lithium salts for classification is rigorously evidence-based, (b) the weight of scientific evidence is prioritised in decision-making and (c) a clear timeline is established for completion.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) assessment of lithium salts (lithium substances/compounds) for classification includes a technical assessment that is rigorously evidence-based. The weight and strength of the relevant available scientific information relating to the hazardous properties of a chemical are used when making recommendations for mandatory classification and labelling.

Further information has been submitted in addition to that identified by HSE regulatory and scientific specialists during the drafting of the Agency Technical Report and Agency Opinion. Under the Article 37A procedure, HSE specialists are now investigating this information and scientific data and, if necessary, seeking additional information or consulting other departments or agencies.

There is no statutory time limit on HSE to prepare and submit a GB mandatory classification and labelling proposal. Once HSE has submitted its proposal for public consultation, there is a clear timeline for completion and milestones established in statute under the procedure set out in Article 37A of the GB CLP Regulation.


Written Question
Statutory Sick Pay
Monday 14th July 2025

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of statutory sick pay.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is bringing in changes to Statutory Sick Pay through the Employment Rights Bill which will mean up to 1.3 million low-paid employees will now be entitled to SSP, and all eligible employees will be paid from the first day of sickness absence, benefitting millions of employees.

Removing the waiting period means that all employees will receive at least £60 extra at the start of their sickness absence, rising to £150 if they work two days per week, compared to the current system.

With these changes, we believe the current rate is fair and achieves the right balance between providing support for employees who are unable to work due to sickness or ill-health whilst limiting the cost to employers. We also know that many employees are eligible for more than the statutory minimum through contractual or occupational sick pay arrangements with their employer.