Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in Access to Work awards at renewal on blind and partially sighted customers.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) informal caregiving responsibilities and (b) companion animal care on labour market participation.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to undertake research into the potential impact of companion animal ownership on a) labour market participation, b) productivity and c) flexible working.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has undertaken any joint work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to assess the a) societal and b) economic impact of companion animal ownership.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to include variables relating to companion animal ownership in a) future labour market and b) household surveys.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13th April to PQ 122869.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Access to Work staff receive specialist advice on visual impairment when assessing applications and renewals for blind and partially sighted customers.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Access to Work staff are trained to assess applications from all disability groups and individual impairments, taking account of each customer’s needs and circumstances. Staff are able to access specific support relating to individual impairments where necessary.
Where specialist advice is required to inform the outcome, Access to Work staff may arrange a workplace assessment through one of its contracted providers to help identify appropriate adjustments and support to address workplace barriers.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) companion animal care functions and (b) informal caregiving on labour market participation.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has made no assessment of pet‑related factors on labour market participation, productivity or flexibility.
The Government does not collect or hold information on the impact that pet ownership has on the labour market.
With regard to comparative assessments between companion animal care functions and informal caregiving, the Department has made no such assessment.
However, the Department has published analysis and research on informal care and employment. This can be found in the Informal Carers and Employment: Summary Report of a Systematic Review, available at: Informal carers and employment: summary report of a systematic review - GOV.UK
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of pet ownership on a) productivity, b) labour market participation and c) flexibility.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has made no assessment of pet‑related factors on labour market participation, productivity or flexibility.
The Government does not collect or hold information on the impact that pet ownership has on the labour market.
With regard to comparative assessments between companion animal care functions and informal caregiving, the Department has made no such assessment.
However, the Department has published analysis and research on informal care and employment. This can be found in the Informal Carers and Employment: Summary Report of a Systematic Review, available at: Informal carers and employment: summary report of a systematic review - GOV.UK
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of pet-related work absences, including those linked to veterinary care and emergencies.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government does not collect or hold information on the reasons for absence relating to the care of pets, including those linked to veterinary care and emergencies.
Employers are responsible for managing wider categories of employee absence, including any time taken for caring responsibilities relating to pets, in line with their own workplace policies.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Motability Scheme in providing access to wheelchair accessible vehicles for disabled people.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Changes to the Motability Scheme were announced as part of the Autumn Budget. An Equality Impact Assessment including consideration of the impact on affected individuals was undertaken and published by HMT as part of the Autumn Budget and can be found here: Motability Scheme: reforming tax reliefs - GOV.UK.
Vehicles substantially designed for, or adapted for, wheelchair or stretcher users will continue to benefit from VAT reliefs on advance payments and the Insurance Premium Tax exemption, in recognition of the additional costs associated with these vehicles. Moreover, Motability Foundation - an independent charitable organisation with oversight of the Motability Scheme - and Motability Operations - an independent commercial company which delivers the Scheme - will continue to ensure the provision of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, while continuing to cover the cost of standard adaptations (such as pedal extensions and steering aids). For customers who cannot afford essential costs or need more complex adaptations, the Motability Foundation will continue to provide means-tested grants to those most in need of financial help.