Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Pension Tracing Service plans to the follow-up to the hon. Member for Wallasey’s original correspondence of 10 January 2023 on tracing a United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Despite an extensive search, officials have been unable to trace your correspondence of 10 January 2023. If you would care to send a copy of that letter to the Department, I can ask my officials to look into the matters raised for you.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has plans to extend the eligibility criteria for the Cost of Living payment to include people in receipt of contribution-based Employment Support Allowance who do not receive Universal Credit.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Cost of Living Payment is being targeted at low income households who are in receipt of a means-tested income replacement benefit. Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non means tested benefit. Non-means tested benefits are not qualifying benefits for the Cost of Living Payment in their own right because people receiving these benefits may have other financial resources available to them. We have no plans to extend the current eligibility criteria.
We will be bringing forward legislation for the 2023/24 Cost of Living Payments in due course.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact that excluding those in receipt of contribution-based Employment Support Allowance who do not receive Universal Credit from eligibility for the Cost of Living payment has had on the ability of affected people to meet their living costs in the context of rises in inflation.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
No such assessment has been made in respect of the 2022/23 Cost of Living Payments.
Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non means tested benefit. Non-means tested benefits are not qualifying benefits for the Cost of Living Payment in their own right because people receiving these benefits may have other financial resources available to them.
We will be bringing forward legislation for the 2023/24 Cost of Living Payments in due course.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason his Department has decided that those in receipt of contribution-based Employment Support Allowance and who do not receive Universal Credit are not eligible for Cost of Living Support payments.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Cost of Living Payment is being targeted at low income households who are in receipt of a means-tested income replacement benefit. Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non means tested benefit. Non-means tested benefits are not qualifying benefits for the Cost of Living Payment in their own right because people receiving these benefits may have other financial resources available to them.
This payment comes on top of extensive Government support with the cost of living, including six million disabled people having been paid a separate £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
These payments are part of the government’s £15bn package of support and sit alongside
The guidance with the full list of support can be found at:
Cost of living support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contingency plans her Department has in place to support the Health and Safety Executive in the event that the shortage of sodium hypochlorite continues.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer my Honourable Friend to the answer I gave on 12th July to her previous question, UIN 32479.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of shortages of sodium hypochlorite on the Health and Safety Executive’s ability to maintain health and safety standards.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer my Honourable Friend to the answer I gave on 12/07/22 to her previous question, UIN 32479.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Health and Safety Executive’s plans to ensure that there is sufficient access to sodium hypochlorite to maintain health and safety standards.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Disinfectants based on sodium hypochlorite are widely used to maintain hygiene levels, however health and safety legislation is not prescriptive about how effective levels of disinfection should be achieved. Instead, it gives duty holders the freedom to select the best method of cleaning and disinfection based on their individual circumstances.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not regulate supply chain issues and it is for end users to source adequate supplies of effective disinfectants, whether sodium hypochlorite or alternative products, to achieve appropriate levels of hygiene.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure equal employment opportunities for disabled people in Wallasey constituency.
Answered by Chloe Smith
In Wallasey’s jobcentres, Work Coaches, aided by Disability Employment Advisers, tailor support to claimant’s individual needs, taking account of local provision, training, and employment opportunities.
This Government is committed to improving the lives of disabled people and delivering the most ambitious disability reform agenda in a generation. DWP delivers a range of national programmes, as well as initiatives in partnership with the health system, to support disabled people to stay in or move into work. These include the Work and Health Programme, Employment Advisors in Improving Access to Psychological Therapy and Intensive Personalised Employment Support.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Wallasey constituency.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.