Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the recent Scope report Now is the Time 2018, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of a cross-departmental approach to support the families of disabled children.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s vision for disabled children and young people is the same as for everyone else – to enable them to fulfil their potential, achieve well in education, and to live happy and fulfilled lives. To support this aim, the Disability and Society Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) was set up last year to drive forward action across Government to tackle the barriers disabled people face to realising their full participation in society. Whilst disability policy is the responsibility of all Departments, by working together we can improve disabled people’s participation, for which we are jointly responsible.
We are also committed to working with a wide and diverse range of people and organisations to shape and improve government's approach. We announced our new Regional Stakeholder Network in December 2018, which will bring the views of disabled people, local disability organisations, disabled people led organisations, and organisations that represent disabled people closer to government.
The UK Government has some of the strongest equalities legislation in the world and we will continue to ensure that these rights are protected, just as we will continue to develop policies to tackle the barriers faced by disabled people.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the role of the Minister for Disabled People is in co-ordinating children and families policy across Government.
Answered by Will Quince
The Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance leads on policy for children and families within DWP – including the delivery of the Reducing Parental Conflict programme, the Child Maintenance Service, Maternity benefits and the Family Test which was developed to ensure that potential impacts on family relationships and functioning are considered in advice put to Ministers. To strengthen implementation of the Family Test, we are currently working across government with a newly created Family Test Network.
To fulfil this role DWP works with a range of other departments to ensure the policy we deliver for children and families is effective, but it does not coordinate children and families’ policy across government.
Part of the role of the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work is to work across government to encourage development of policies to tackle the barriers disabled people face to realising their full participation in society. Whilst disability policy is the responsibility of all departments, by working together we can improve disabled people’s participation, for which we are jointly responsible.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to support people with inconsistent internet access to access universal credit.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be easy. However, we recognise that some will need help.
For those requiring help, assistance is available through Universal Support. On 1 October 2018 we announced the Department’s new partnership with Citizens Advice (and Citizens Advice Scotland) to provide an improved nationwide Universal Support.
Assisted Digital Support, which is a component of Universal Support, provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online. Further support is offered via training courses which claimants are referred to by their work coaches.
Additionally, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those few that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available vial the Freephone UC helpline. The UC Service Centre will establish the best means of support available, and in exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to support people who do not have a computer to access universal credit.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be easy. However, we recognise that some will need help.
For those requiring help, assistance is available through Universal Support. On 1 October 2018 we announced the Department’s new partnership with Citizens Advice (and Citizens Advice Scotland) to provide an improved nationwide Universal Support.
Assisted Digital Support, which is a component of Universal Support, provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online. Further support is offered via training courses which claimants are referred to by their work coaches.
Additionally, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those few that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available vial the Freephone UC helpline. The UC Service Centre will establish the best means of support available, and in exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to support people with low computer literacy to access universal credit.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be easy. However, we recognise that some will need help.
For those requiring help, assistance is available through Universal Support. On 1 October 2018 we announced the Department’s new partnership with Citizens Advice (and Citizens Advice Scotland) to provide an improved nationwide Universal Support.
Assisted Digital Support, which is a component of Universal Support, provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online. Further support is offered via training courses which claimants are referred to by their work coaches.
Additionally, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those few that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available vial the Freephone UC helpline. The UC Service Centre will establish the best means of support available, and in exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how income inequality has changed by percentile since 2010.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Households Below Average Income survey (HBAI) produces information on the income distribution and income inequality which can be found here. This publication shows income inequality has fallen between 2009/10 and 2015/16.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-199495-to-201516
Table 2.1ts of this publication sets out median incomes over time for each decile of the population, ordered from the 10% of individuals with the lowest equivalised household incomes (decile 1), to the 10% of individuals with the highest incomes (decile 10). This shows between 2009/10 and 2015/16 on a Before Housing Cost (BHC) basis, the median income of decile 1 increased by 4%, whereas the median income of decile 10 decreased by 3%. The patterns were similar on an After Housing Cost (AHC) basis, whereby decile 1 increased by 2% and decile 10 decreased by 3%.
The publication also has measures for income inequality. One of these is the Gini-coefficient, which is an international standard technical measure, showing how incomes are distributed across all individuals. It ranges from 0% (when everyone has identical incomes) to 100% (when all income goes to only one person). Income inequality according to this measure has fallen between 2009/10 and 2015/16 from 36% to 35% on a BHC basis, and from 40% to 39% on an AHC basis.
Another measure of income inequality is the 90/10 ratio; this compares the incomes of the 90th percentile to the 10th percentile. The higher the number, the greater the gap between those with the highest incomes and those with the lowest incomes. This measure has fallen between 2009/10 and 2015/16 from 4.1 to 3.9 on a BHC basis, and from 5.4 to 5.2 on an AHC basis.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to introduce provisions relating to Class 3 national insurance credits in the National Insurance Contributions Bill.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has no current plans to introduce a Class 3 National Insurance credit for volunteers.
However on 6 September, a Call For Evidence was published on the Full-Time Social Action Review which will develop recommendations on how to support full time volunteering.
Details of how to submit evidence are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643612/Full_Time_Social_Action_Review_-_Call_for_Evidence.pdf
The review will consider what the voluntary sector, industry and, if needed, government can do to support full-time volunteering.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the forthcoming National Insurance Contributions Bill, if =he-she- will consult the Youth Full-Time Social Action Review on the potential merits of granting Class 3 national insurance credits to full-time volunteers.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has no current plans to introduce a Class 3 National Insurance credit for volunteers.
However on 6 September, a Call For Evidence was published on the Full-Time Social Action Review which will develop recommendations on how to support full time volunteering.
Details of how to submit evidence are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643612/Full_Time_Social_Action_Review_-_Call_for_Evidence.pdf
The review will consider what the voluntary sector, industry and, if needed, government can do to support full-time volunteering.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the forthcoming National Insurance Contributions Bill, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of granting Class 3 national insurance credits to young people engaged in full-time social action programmes.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has no current plans to introduce a Class 3 National Insurance credit for volunteers.
However on 6 September, a Call For Evidence was published on the Full-Time Social Action Review which will develop recommendations on how to support full time volunteering.
Details of how to submit evidence are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643612/Full_Time_Social_Action_Review_-_Call_for_Evidence.pdf
The review will consider what the voluntary sector, industry and, if needed, government can do to support full-time volunteering.
Asked by: Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department is providing to young people who are classified as long-term unemployed in Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency.
Answered by Priti Patel
Since March 2012 and throughout the recession DWP has provided additional support, over and above the standard Jobcentre Plus offer, to young people that has included:
Each young person on benefit receives support tailored to their needs, for example referrals to Apprenticeships, to other jobs, traineeships, skills training and work experience.
We are committed to providing every opportunity to encourage young people to either earn or learn. For example, on 27 January 2016, Poole Jobcentre have organised a sector based work academy Jobs Fair event for 18-24 year olds with employers.