Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer of 5 February 2019 to Question 215231 on Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing, what timings her Department records when measuring time elapsed relating to complaints received from Private Rental Sector Landlords about universal credit full service tenants.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
All complaints received by the Department from any source are handled in accordance with the complaints process published on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in the last year, what is the average time taken for the Independent Case Examiner to provide an outcome to escalated complaints from PRS landlords about universal credit full service tenants.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
During 2018, the average time taken by the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office to conclude investigations into complaints from landlords concerning Universal Credit tenants was 29 weeks, from the point at which the investigation commenced. For reporting purposes the ICE Office do not distinguish between full and live service Universal Credit claimants.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to reduce the time taken to respond to complaints from PRS landlords with universal credit full service tenants.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Complaints received from Private Rental Sector Landlords about Universal Credit full service are handled in line with the overall Departmental complaints process, published on Gov.uk and aim for the majority to be resolved / responded to within 15 working days.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time was for her Department to provide an outcome to complaints from PRS landlords about universal credit full service tenants in the most recent 12-month for which figures are available.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not measure timings as described in the question (average time between receiving a complaint and providing an outcome) and to determine this request, we would need to examine each individual case, which would incur disproportionate costs.
Complaints received from Private Rental Sector Landlords about Universal Credit full service are handled in line with the overall Departmental complaints process published on Gov.uk and aim to be resolved / responded to within 15 working days.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the North Sea Forties pipeline shutdown, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that privately owned gas transport infrastructure is adequately inspected and maintained.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The safety and integrity of Great Britain’s gas transport infrastructure is governed by the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR) and the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GSMR), made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Under these regulations, there is a duty on a pipeline operator to ensure that a pipeline is designed and constructed to appropriate standards and operated, managed and maintained safely.
In addition, the Health and Safety Executive develops inspection and intervention plans, based on the risk profile of work activities, and works closely with pipeline operators to ensure the risks from pipelines remain adequately controlled.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many violent incidents involving knives there have been at jobcentres in (a) the UK and (b) Nottinghamshire in the last (i) one (ii) three and (iii) five years.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
In the year to March 2018 incidents reported through the Department’s Serious Incident (Fast Track) Reporting process identified 11 incidences where knives were brought into our offices, whether to threaten, harm or self-harm. For the three year period April 2015 to March 2018 there were 28 identified and for the five year period April 2013 to March 2018 the total is 49.
No Nottinghamshire sites are included in the figures above.
Robust controls are in place to mitigate the risk of unacceptable customer behaviour (UCB) and eliminate violent incidents as far as reasonably practicable; including security presence, risk assessments and training for our staff. We review outcomes of our most serious incidents and consider any lessons learned to make improvements to our processes and training when necessary to help prevent reoccurrence.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to re-evaluate the security of staff in jobcentres as a result of recent trends in the level of knife crime.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Department takes the safety of our staff and customers extremely seriously. All of our security control measures are under constant review, and every incident is carefully analysed to identify any weaknesses exposed. We are very aware of the increased threat of knife crime, and the staff of our security partners G4S are trained to recognise the potential threats and respond accordingly.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many violent incidents leading to arrests there have been at jobcentres in (a) the UK and (b) Nottinghamshire in the last (i) one, (ii) three and (iii) five years.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Department for Work and Pensions takes any form of abuse and harassment of its staff by customers and claimants very seriously. Where necessary the police are called to aid in the management of a situation. However, the Department does not routinely record whether this subsequently leads to arrest.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many suspected benefit fraud reports from the public have been (a) received and (b) led to action by her Department in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
DWP takes its responsibility to detect, prevent and recover benefit fraud very seriously. As the money paid in benefits is taxpayer’s money it is right that we ensure it is paid correctly, and recover any money that is paid incorrectly.
All reported allegations of benefit fraud are recorded and appropriate action taken.
In 2013 the total referrals received from all sources equated to 864,200. In the same year, there were 614,350 positive outcomes. A positive outcome is everything that is achieved apart from a no result outcome. This can include prosecution, Administrative Penalty, benefit correction and / or overpayment calculation.
In 2014, DWP received a total of 823,450 referrals. There were 627,300 positive outcomes.
In 2015, DWP received a total of 779,050 referrals. There were 589,900 positive outcomes.
In 2016, DWP received a total of 752,400 referrals. There were 602,550 positive outcomes.
In 2017, DWP received a total of 825,000 referrals. There were 600,150 positive outcomes.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken has been to process suspected benefit fraud reports from the public in each of the last five years.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Benefit fraud investigators are expected to progress cases without undue delay and investigations are brought to a conclusion as soon as enough evidence is gathered to prove or disprove the allegation made. The time taken to do this will depend on the nature of the allegation and the avenues of enquiry that need to be pursued.
Some investigations are extremely complex requiring a greater investment of time. It would not be appropriate to compare investigation times across the board as to do so would not provide meaningful data.