Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of the Access to Work scheme for deaf people.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There is a variety of contact methods which customers with hearing loss can utilise. These include textphone, Video Relay Service and email as a reasonable adjustment. Where a customer would like to use email as a method of contact, they should inform the Access to Work team or Case Manager. Details can be found at Access to Work: factsheet for customers - GOV.UK
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress the Government has made in implementing the British Sign Language Act 2022.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Everyone in our country should have access to important information from the government and should be able to engage with the government on issues that will affect them. That is why it is crucial to make sure that government communications are as inclusive and accessible as possible, including for the Deaf community and British Sign Language (BSL) users.
The British Sign Language Act 2022 supports this by creating a greater recognition and understanding of BSL, and requires the government to report on what departments listed in the Act have done to promote or facilitate the use of British Sign Language in their communications with the public.
The third BSL report was published on Monday 21 July 2025 and demonstrates an increase in the usage of BSL by government departments in public-facing communications since reporting started in 2023. We will continue to publish a report every year on an annual basis up to 2027, going further than the frequency required by the Act. The next report will be published in July 2026.
In addition to overall reporting, each ministerial department has produced a 5 year BSL Plan, setting out how they plan to improve the use of BSL within their departments. These were published alongside the third BSL report in July 2025.
Following the passage of the BSL Act, the BSL Advisory board was created to advise the Government on key issues impacting the Deaf community in their everyday life. It is the first dual language board advising the UK Government, and it meets regularly. We will continue to work with the BSL Advisory Board, Deaf people and their representative organisations, and with Ministers across government, including our Lead Ministers for Disability, to continue to make tangible improvements for the Deaf community
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of family members claiming Carer’s Allowance on the finances of the disabled people that they care for.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Carer’s Allowance, paid to a family member providing care, can affect a disabled person’s own means-tested benefit award. Family members and disabled people should carefully consider what benefit support best meets their specific circumstances.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure short courses in (a) digital, (b) AI and (c) engineering are eligible for Growth and Skills Levy funding from April 2026.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government wants employers to be able to use the levy on short, flexible training courses to meet their business needs from April 2026. The first wave of these courses will be called apprenticeship units. The initial roll-out will be in priority areas such as artificial intelligence, digital, and engineering, and will be expanded over time to other critical skills needs.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of regional variation in uptake of the Connect to Work programme.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Connect to Work programme has been designed with local authorities and is being delivered by local areas. Each local area across all of England and Wales has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Local areas working with their Delivery Partners and DWP are fully responsible for delivery of Connect to Work as outlined in their Delivery Plan.
Connect to Work participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Connect to Work employment specialists may be integrated into primary and secondary health care settings and other support services to assist individuals with mild to moderate mental and/or physical health conditions.
The Connect to Work grant funding is formula based. To access the funding each accountable body has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Connect to Work is designed to give local areas considerable flexibility in determining how they deliver Connect to Work locally, including decisions about integration into health care settings. While there is an expectation that employment specialists will work in partnership with health services to support individuals with health-related barriers to work, DWP has not set requirements for the number or type of health care settings in which they must be embedded. This allows local areas to tailor delivery to meet the specific needs of their populations and existing service infrastructure.
Local areas are fully responsible for identifying referral routes in their areas. Connect to Work has wide ranging referral routes into the programme, which include primary healthcare, community care and other care settings and through social prescribing together with wider local organisations e.g. Voluntary and Charity Sector services and employers as well as Jobcentre Plus. A breakdown of referral routes for participants is not yet available centrally.
The Connect to Work programme has been rolling out and opening across England and Wales throughout this year. As of October 2025, around a third of delivery areas have Connect to Work services already open to participants.
For areas that have yet to have their Connect to Work funding confirmed, DWP continues to provide support to help them finalise their delivery plans. We expect these areas to have their services live by spring 2026.
Total funding for Connect to Work will reach over £1 billion across England and Wales over the next five years and provide around 300,000 sick or disabled people with help to get into work by the end of the decade.
Data is not yet available for the Connect to Work Programme. The Department plan to develop official statistics to support Connect to Work, and updates will be shared via the DWP Statistical Work Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Connect to Work referrals come from (a) healthcare professionals, (b) local councils, (c) self-referrals and (d) community organisations.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Connect to Work programme has been designed with local authorities and is being delivered by local areas. Each local area across all of England and Wales has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Local areas working with their Delivery Partners and DWP are fully responsible for delivery of Connect to Work as outlined in their Delivery Plan.
Connect to Work participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Connect to Work employment specialists may be integrated into primary and secondary health care settings and other support services to assist individuals with mild to moderate mental and/or physical health conditions.
The Connect to Work grant funding is formula based. To access the funding each accountable body has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Connect to Work is designed to give local areas considerable flexibility in determining how they deliver Connect to Work locally, including decisions about integration into health care settings. While there is an expectation that employment specialists will work in partnership with health services to support individuals with health-related barriers to work, DWP has not set requirements for the number or type of health care settings in which they must be embedded. This allows local areas to tailor delivery to meet the specific needs of their populations and existing service infrastructure.
Local areas are fully responsible for identifying referral routes in their areas. Connect to Work has wide ranging referral routes into the programme, which include primary healthcare, community care and other care settings and through social prescribing together with wider local organisations e.g. Voluntary and Charity Sector services and employers as well as Jobcentre Plus. A breakdown of referral routes for participants is not yet available centrally.
The Connect to Work programme has been rolling out and opening across England and Wales throughout this year. As of October 2025, around a third of delivery areas have Connect to Work services already open to participants.
For areas that have yet to have their Connect to Work funding confirmed, DWP continues to provide support to help them finalise their delivery plans. We expect these areas to have their services live by spring 2026.
Total funding for Connect to Work will reach over £1 billion across England and Wales over the next five years and provide around 300,000 sick or disabled people with help to get into work by the end of the decade.
Data is not yet available for the Connect to Work Programme. The Department plan to develop official statistics to support Connect to Work, and updates will be shared via the DWP Statistical Work Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) GP surgeries and (b) mental health teams have Connect to Work employment advisers embedded in their services.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Connect to Work programme has been designed with local authorities and is being delivered by local areas. Each local area across all of England and Wales has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Local areas working with their Delivery Partners and DWP are fully responsible for delivery of Connect to Work as outlined in their Delivery Plan.
Connect to Work participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Connect to Work employment specialists may be integrated into primary and secondary health care settings and other support services to assist individuals with mild to moderate mental and/or physical health conditions.
The Connect to Work grant funding is formula based. To access the funding each accountable body has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Connect to Work is designed to give local areas considerable flexibility in determining how they deliver Connect to Work locally, including decisions about integration into health care settings. While there is an expectation that employment specialists will work in partnership with health services to support individuals with health-related barriers to work, DWP has not set requirements for the number or type of health care settings in which they must be embedded. This allows local areas to tailor delivery to meet the specific needs of their populations and existing service infrastructure.
Local areas are fully responsible for identifying referral routes in their areas. Connect to Work has wide ranging referral routes into the programme, which include primary healthcare, community care and other care settings and through social prescribing together with wider local organisations e.g. Voluntary and Charity Sector services and employers as well as Jobcentre Plus. A breakdown of referral routes for participants is not yet available centrally.
The Connect to Work programme has been rolling out and opening across England and Wales throughout this year. As of October 2025, around a third of delivery areas have Connect to Work services already open to participants.
For areas that have yet to have their Connect to Work funding confirmed, DWP continues to provide support to help them finalise their delivery plans. We expect these areas to have their services live by spring 2026.
Total funding for Connect to Work will reach over £1 billion across England and Wales over the next five years and provide around 300,000 sick or disabled people with help to get into work by the end of the decade.
Data is not yet available for the Connect to Work Programme. The Department plan to develop official statistics to support Connect to Work, and updates will be shared via the DWP Statistical Work Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any local authority areas submitted unsuccessful bids for Connect to Work funding during this expansion round.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Connect to Work programme has been designed with local authorities and is being delivered by local areas. Each local area across all of England and Wales has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Local areas working with their Delivery Partners and DWP are fully responsible for delivery of Connect to Work as outlined in their Delivery Plan.
Connect to Work participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Connect to Work employment specialists may be integrated into primary and secondary health care settings and other support services to assist individuals with mild to moderate mental and/or physical health conditions.
The Connect to Work grant funding is formula based. To access the funding each accountable body has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Connect to Work is designed to give local areas considerable flexibility in determining how they deliver Connect to Work locally, including decisions about integration into health care settings. While there is an expectation that employment specialists will work in partnership with health services to support individuals with health-related barriers to work, DWP has not set requirements for the number or type of health care settings in which they must be embedded. This allows local areas to tailor delivery to meet the specific needs of their populations and existing service infrastructure.
Local areas are fully responsible for identifying referral routes in their areas. Connect to Work has wide ranging referral routes into the programme, which include primary healthcare, community care and other care settings and through social prescribing together with wider local organisations e.g. Voluntary and Charity Sector services and employers as well as Jobcentre Plus. A breakdown of referral routes for participants is not yet available centrally.
The Connect to Work programme has been rolling out and opening across England and Wales throughout this year. As of October 2025, around a third of delivery areas have Connect to Work services already open to participants.
For areas that have yet to have their Connect to Work funding confirmed, DWP continues to provide support to help them finalise their delivery plans. We expect these areas to have their services live by spring 2026.
Total funding for Connect to Work will reach over £1 billion across England and Wales over the next five years and provide around 300,000 sick or disabled people with help to get into work by the end of the decade.
Data is not yet available for the Connect to Work Programme. The Department plan to develop official statistics to support Connect to Work, and updates will be shared via the DWP Statistical Work Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have participated in the Connect to Work programme since its inception.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Connect to Work programme has been designed with local authorities and is being delivered by local areas. Each local area across all of England and Wales has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Local areas working with their Delivery Partners and DWP are fully responsible for delivery of Connect to Work as outlined in their Delivery Plan.
Connect to Work participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Connect to Work employment specialists may be integrated into primary and secondary health care settings and other support services to assist individuals with mild to moderate mental and/or physical health conditions.
The Connect to Work grant funding is formula based. To access the funding each accountable body has been invited to develop their plan for delivery, reflecting needs across their area. Connect to Work is designed to give local areas considerable flexibility in determining how they deliver Connect to Work locally, including decisions about integration into health care settings. While there is an expectation that employment specialists will work in partnership with health services to support individuals with health-related barriers to work, DWP has not set requirements for the number or type of health care settings in which they must be embedded. This allows local areas to tailor delivery to meet the specific needs of their populations and existing service infrastructure.
Local areas are fully responsible for identifying referral routes in their areas. Connect to Work has wide ranging referral routes into the programme, which include primary healthcare, community care and other care settings and through social prescribing together with wider local organisations e.g. Voluntary and Charity Sector services and employers as well as Jobcentre Plus. A breakdown of referral routes for participants is not yet available centrally.
The Connect to Work programme has been rolling out and opening across England and Wales throughout this year. As of October 2025, around a third of delivery areas have Connect to Work services already open to participants.
For areas that have yet to have their Connect to Work funding confirmed, DWP continues to provide support to help them finalise their delivery plans. We expect these areas to have their services live by spring 2026.
Total funding for Connect to Work will reach over £1 billion across England and Wales over the next five years and provide around 300,000 sick or disabled people with help to get into work by the end of the decade.
Data is not yet available for the Connect to Work Programme. The Department plan to develop official statistics to support Connect to Work, and updates will be shared via the DWP Statistical Work Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness among pensioners of winter fuel payment scams.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
DWP, in partnership with Action Fraud, are raising awareness of Winter Fuel Payment scams across Facebook and Twitter. This is alongside DWP’s continued work with trusted partners and charities such as Independent Age to ensure accurate and timely information is available. DWP has also developed a recorded message for our telephone lines and issued a press release via GOV.UK to raise awareness of Winter Fuel Payment scams.