Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have used the Universal Support programme in 2023 in England and Wales.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Universal Support is a new, voluntary employment programme for inactive disabled people and those with health conditions who have additional barriers to employment. The main programme expected to launch in Autumn 2024, will offer individuals up to 12 months of ‘place and train’ support by a dedicated keyworker, helping them find a suitable role and catering to their needs.
Universal Support is in the early stages of development, and we will publish further information in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of Universal Credit claimants met with a dedicated work coach in 2023 under the In-Work Progression Offer.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to supporting individuals who are in low paid work to progress, helping them increase their earnings and move into better paid quality jobs. Universal Credit seeks to ensure that claimants are better off working more hours and earning more money, helping them ultimately to become financially independent.
Universal Credit claimants who earn below the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) of £677 for an individual and £1083 for a couple are placed within the Universal Credit Intensive Work Search (IWS) labour market regime. This means they receive mandatory support from a work coach and must look for and take up more or better-paid work, as well as attend regular meetings with their work coach.
Currently information regarding the proportion of Universal Credit claimants that met with a dedicated work coach in 2023 is not available, as data on work coach appointments is not currently recorded in a way that would allow this to be measured.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff were employed in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023, in roles which target fraud, error and debt across the benefit system.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Everyone in DWP has a role to play in stopping fraud and error.
In recent Spending Rounds we secured additional funding enabling us to enhance our counter-fraud and error capabilities including a new Targeted Case Review (TCR) team to review millions of Universal Credit claims, as well as recruitment into our Counter Fraud & Compliance Directorate (CFCD).
We are continuing to create a culture where stopping fraud and error and minimising debt is a shared goal of everyone in DWP and those who deliver services for us. All staff will understand the part they play within DWP, and they will have the knowledge, skills and tools they need to deliver.
| Oct-21 | Oct-22 | Oct-23 |
CFCD/TCR staffing | 7,410 | 9,240 | 10,260 |
Source: Derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM).
Notes:
|
|
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many adults completed Multiply adult numeracy courses in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023 to date.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Completion figures are not currently published for the Multiply programme. The next data release, expected at the end of November, will include completion figures by region for all four quarters of the 2022/23 academic year.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many adults have completed Multiply adult numeracy courses, broken down by region.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Completion figures are not currently published for the Multiply programme. The next data release, expected at the end of November, will include completion figures by region for all four quarters of the 2022/23 academic year.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from the disbanding of the Energy Efficiency Taskforce.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State, after careful deliberation, concluded that the draft work of the Energy Efficiency Taskforce could be streamlined into ongoing government activity. The numerous ideas, discussions and draft recommendations will be instrumental in driving forward energy efficiency.