Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be any further piloting of managed migration before it is rolled out.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The department will make an announcement in due course on Move to Universal Credit.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish the research report, The Uses of Health and Disability Benefit, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions now that it has been published by the Work and Pensions Committee on the 3 February 2022; and, if so, when they plan to do this.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Protecting a private space for policy development has always been an important factor in the formation of Government policy.
We are currently considering a range of policy options for changes to health and disability benefits and support, reflecting on the 2021 Green Paper and subsequent consultation. As part of this, we will regularly draw on a wide range of evidence, research and analysis.
We plan to officially publish the research as soon as we can once policy development work has concluded and therefore publish it alongside the Health and Disability White Paper.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the findings from the 289 Internal Process Reviews undertaken by the Department of Works and Pensions into the death or serious harm of claimants which have been related to the actions of that department since 2012.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
We do not routinely publish Internal Process Reviews (IPRs) or their findings.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Internal Process Reviews conducted by the Department of Work and Pensions relate to cases that have also been subject to Safeguarding Adults Reviews.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
From September 2020 to present (January 2022) the Department has conducted
10 Internal Process Reviews for cases in which we are aware that a Safeguarding Adults Review has also been undertaken.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes have been implemented by the Department of Work and Pensions in response to the 289 Internal Process Reviews into (1) the death, or (2) serious harm, of claimants related to the actions of that department since 2012.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Recommendations from Internal Process Reviews (IPRs) are a critical source of insight and learning.
Improvements the Department has made following the completion of IPRs in the last few years include:
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increase in Universal Credit sanctions in June and July 2021; and when they plan to publish their report on the effectiveness of Universal Credit sanctions.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
No assessment has been made of the increase in Universal Credit sanctions in June and July 2021. The increase is a result of the re-introduction of conditionality following its suspension at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sanctions rate remains low at 0.78%.
We do not plan to publish a report on the sanctions evaluation as we were unable to assess the deterrent effect and therefore this research doesn’t present a comprehensive picture of sanctions
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 1 November (HL3172), (1) whether the decision not to publish the report commissioned from NatCen on the uses of health and disability benefits is consistent with the Publication Protocol for Government Social Research, and (2) what plans they have, if any, to explain how the private space for policy development is relevant to the decision not to publish the NatCen report.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Publication Protocol for Government Social Research provides guidance on the publication of social research, but it is important that Ministers consider research and its publication on a case by case basis and in the best interests of Government policy formation.
The report in question engages an exemption from disclosure because it relates to the formulation or development of this government policy – Section 35(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act. This exemption protects the private space within which Ministers and their policy advisers can develop policies without the risk of premature disclosure.
I am satisfied that in this instance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Therefore, I do not intend to publish this research at present.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the research commissioned from NatCen on the uses of health and disability benefits was not referenced in the Shaping future support: the health and disability green paper, published on 20 July.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The DWP Green Paper reflects a wide range of issues that were shaped by engagement with disabled people, representative organisations and charities, with relevant research and analysis playing a role in supporting the content which was presented.
I have no intention to publish this research at present. It is important to protect the private space within which Ministers and their policy advisers can develop policies without the risk of premature disclosure.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the report commissioned from NatCen on the uses of health and disability benefits; why it has not yet been published; and whether non-publication is consistent with the Publication Protocol for Government Social Research.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The DWP Green Paper reflects a wide range of issues that were shaped by engagement with disabled people, representative organisations and charities, with relevant research and analysis playing a role in supporting the content which was presented.
I have no intention to publish this research at present. It is important to protect the private space within which Ministers and their policy advisers can develop policies without the risk of premature disclosure.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision to freeze the Local Housing Allowance in cash terms on the ability of recipients to cover their rental costs.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
In April 2020 Local Housing Allowance rates were increased to the 30th percentile of local rents. This investment of nearly £1 billion provided 1.5 million claimants with an average £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received.
LHA rates have been maintained at the same cash level for 2021/22 rather than reverting to previous rates which were much less generous. This provides a reasonable amount of support and ensures that all claimants who benefitted from the increased levels of housing support will continue to do so.
For those who require additional support with housing costs Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. Since 2011 we have provided over £1 billion in DHP funding. We have allocated a further £140 million for Discretionary Housing Payments for 2021/22 in England and Wales.