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Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of (a) named day questions and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by her Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025, (vi) October 2025 and (vii) November 2025.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of foreign-born families who will claim universal credit or tax credits for more than 2 children and (b) the total cost of this.

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

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Employment and Support Allowance: Parkinson's Disease
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's get contribution based Employment Support Allowance and are allocated to the Support Group.

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

As of May 2025, there were 1,800 claimants in receipt of contributory Employment and Support Allowance in the Support Group with the main disabling conditionParkinson’s disease or syndrome’. In the same month, there were 300 claimants in receipt of contributory Employment and Support Allowance in the Support Group with the main disabling conditionParkinsonism’.

Data is based on primary medical condition as recorded on the ESA computer systems. Claimants may have multiple disabling conditions on which their entitlement is based but only the primary condition is available for statistical purposes and shown in these statistics.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Children
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Chris Vince (Labour (Co-op) - Harlow)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of households affected by the two child limit policy that are (a) two earner couple households and (b) two earner couple households in which both earners are in full time work.

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

a) This information is available as part of routinely released statistical series: Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK

b) In April 2025, 3,700 couple households where both parents were earning at least the equivalent of 36.5 hours at the national living wage were affected by the two child limit

Notes for part b

  1. We have estimated full-time work status using earnings data. The earnings threshold indicative of full-time employment was estimated based on the average full-time working hours (36.5) reported by the ONS and the current National Living Wage. This is an assumption and not a standard estimate of full-time employment.
  2. Net pay was calculated using the Gov.uk online calculator.
  3. Couple household: A Universal Credit contract, which includes two adult claimants, who have dependent children.
  4. Affected: A child is affected by the two child limit policy if they are a third or subsequent dependent child born on or after 6 April 2017. This includes children with exceptions to the two-child limit.
  5. A household is affected by the policy if they have one or more affected children.
  6. Figures above have been rounded to the nearest 100.
  7. Figures are for GB.


Written Question
Horticulture and Parks: Skilled Workers
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how their department can work with others across Government to ensure there are the right skills and workforce in place to support local authorities in developing careers in amenity horticulture and parks.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Universal Credit: Pregnancy
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what number and proportion of pregnant Universal Credit claimants were deemed to have Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity due to pregnancy risk in the most recent year for which data is available.

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

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Correspondence
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what performance metrics his Department uses to evaluate the timeliness and quality of support provided to Members of Parliament when handling child maintenance queries.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Children: Maintenance
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of the total value of child maintenance arrears has been outstanding for (a) under 12 months, (b) 1 to 3 years, (c) 3 to 7 years and (d) more than 7 years.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Children: Maintenance
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the current total value is of child maintenance arrears.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Employment and Support Allowance: Parkinson's Disease
Monday 15th December 2025

Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the number of people with Parkinson's in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group.

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

As of May 2025, there were 2,000 claimants in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group with the main disabling condition 'Parkinson’s disease or syndrome’. In the same month, there were 300 claimants in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group with the main disabling conditionParkinsonism’.

Data is based on primary medical condition as recorded on the ESA computer systems. Claimants may have multiple disabling conditions on which their entitlement is based but only the primary condition is available for statistical purposes and shown in these statistics.