Angela Eagle: Written Answers (741)

Written Question

State Retirement Pensions

Wednesday 1st May 2024

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 percentage of new State Pension claims have been completed within the planned processing timescales by (a) nation and (b) region in each year since 2010.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Table 1 - Percentage of new claims that have been completed within the planned processing timescales by benefit.

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jobseekers Allowance	88.6%	86.8%	80.6%	53.1%	82.5%	87.1%	67.8%	58.7%
Employment and Support Allowance	84.6%	85.3%	73.3%	96.1%	70.9%	42.5%	47.4%	39.5%
State Pension	87.9%	73.7%	86.8%	86.7%	76.2%	45.6%	72.0%	96.2%
Pension Credit	71.0%	55.2%	53.4%	44.8%	88.2%	74.3%	45.7%	77.7%
Disability Living Allowance (child)	96.8%	96.5%	96.2%	91.3%	92.1%	35.6%	4.6%	3.5%
Personal Independence Payment	85.1%	77.2%	72.3%	40.4%	23.0%	6.8%	38.4%	51.7%
Child Maintenance Service	82.8%	87.4%	88.3%	91.6%	84.3%	84.3%	79.4%	79.6%
Universal Credit			80.4%	85.2%	90.9%	85.7%	84.4%	TBC

Comments to note:

Data has been provided for the years 2016-17 to 2023-24 (UC 2018-19 to 2023-24). Previous years requested are not retained centrally and the breakdown by nation and region for services except UC would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

In the spirit of answering the question we have provided table 1 above.

Service Performance Context:

Jobseekers Allowance

From the start of the pandemic until April 2021, JSA claims were subject to easements that meant face-to-face appointment was removed. In April 2021, Claimant Commitments and regular face to face engagement requirements were reintroduced.

Employment and Support Allowance

ESA 2019-20 to 2023-24, the new claim process for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) changed. In April 2020 a digital claim was introduced during Covid. Prior to this, as part of the new claim process, a period up to 10 days at beginning was never measured. With the re-designed process all time is included, so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with the new claim process before April 2020.

State Pension

Performance was severely impacted due to the need to repivot resource to other areas, such as Universal Credit, during the global pandemic. In 2021/22, resource was re-deployed to work through the backlogs. Investment in digital services in this area has also aided recovery leading to significant performance improvements in 2023/24.

Pension Credit

2019/20 was impacted by substantial spikes in claims following the BBC decision to remove free TV licences. Uptake in Pension Credit has been encouraged through campaigns and again led to unprecedented claims being received when entitlement was linked to additional Cost of Living payments. This created backlogs and impacted payment timeliness as these were recovered.

Disability Living Allowance (Child)

Disability Living Allowance ceased in 2013 and is no longer an active benefit, it was replaced by Personal Independence Payment. Disability Living Allowance for Children continues to accept new claims and as such we have responded in respect of this benefit.
Demand for Child DLA has increased in recent years and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic volumes.
During 2020-21 we deferred case renewal activity to focus on processing new claims. Since then the service has had to service both high new claims volumes and the deferred renewal work which has led to longer processing times.
We have increased the numbers of staff working on Child DLA to respond to increase new claims volumes, and clear cases in date order to ensure fair customer service.

Personal Independence Payment

PIP performance represents a significant recovery compared to prior periods and the lowest average journey time recorded since 2018 (see published statistics)
PIP New Claims demand is significantly higher than pre-Covid levels, despite the devolution of Scottish claims during this period.

Child Maintenance Service

Child Maintenance Service application volumes have been sharply increasing with CMS receiving more than 50% more in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This dip in performance over this time can largely be explained by this. More recently, the removal of the Application fee has also resulted in higher volumes.

Universal Credit

Data has been provided for the years 2018-19 to 2023-24. Detailed data by local areas is available via Stat Xplore within the Universal Credit Published Statistics (Universal Credit statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). Previous years requested are not retained centrally or published and the breakdown by nation and region would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

The 2023-24 figures for UC are not available until May as per the Statistics Release schedule.

Planned timescales for all benefits are listed in table 2 below.

Table 2: Planned Timescales for new claims (current methodology)

Jobseekers Allowance	Within 10 working days
Employment and Support Allowance	Within 10 working days
State Pension	Within 20 working days of State Pension entitlement date or 20 working days of Initial date of claim if claiming after entitlement has started.
Pension Credit	Within 50 working days
Disability Living Allowance (Child)	Within 40 working days
Personal Independence Payment	Within 75 working days
Child Maintenance Service	Payment within 12 weeks
Universal Credit	% Full Payment 1st Assessment Period

Notes: The planned timescales detailed above relate to those used for the 23/24 financial year. The timescales and methodologies to calculate them have changed over time to reflect new processes, technology and demands on our services.

Written Question

Pension Credit

Wednesday 1st May 2024

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 percentage of new Pension Credit claims have been completed within the planned processing timescales by (a) nation and (b) region in each year since 2010.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Table 1 - Percentage of new claims that have been completed within the planned processing timescales by benefit.

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jobseekers Allowance	88.6%	86.8%	80.6%	53.1%	82.5%	87.1%	67.8%	58.7%
Employment and Support Allowance	84.6%	85.3%	73.3%	96.1%	70.9%	42.5%	47.4%	39.5%
State Pension	87.9%	73.7%	86.8%	86.7%	76.2%	45.6%	72.0%	96.2%
Pension Credit	71.0%	55.2%	53.4%	44.8%	88.2%	74.3%	45.7%	77.7%
Disability Living Allowance (child)	96.8%	96.5%	96.2%	91.3%	92.1%	35.6%	4.6%	3.5%
Personal Independence Payment	85.1%	77.2%	72.3%	40.4%	23.0%	6.8%	38.4%	51.7%
Child Maintenance Service	82.8%	87.4%	88.3%	91.6%	84.3%	84.3%	79.4%	79.6%
Universal Credit			80.4%	85.2%	90.9%	85.7%	84.4%	TBC

Comments to note:

Data has been provided for the years 2016-17 to 2023-24 (UC 2018-19 to 2023-24). Previous years requested are not retained centrally and the breakdown by nation and region for services except UC would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

In the spirit of answering the question we have provided table 1 above.

Service Performance Context:

Jobseekers Allowance

From the start of the pandemic until April 2021, JSA claims were subject to easements that meant face-to-face appointment was removed. In April 2021, Claimant Commitments and regular face to face engagement requirements were reintroduced.

Employment and Support Allowance

ESA 2019-20 to 2023-24, the new claim process for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) changed. In April 2020 a digital claim was introduced during Covid. Prior to this, as part of the new claim process, a period up to 10 days at beginning was never measured. With the re-designed process all time is included, so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with the new claim process before April 2020.

State Pension

Performance was severely impacted due to the need to repivot resource to other areas, such as Universal Credit, during the global pandemic. In 2021/22, resource was re-deployed to work through the backlogs. Investment in digital services in this area has also aided recovery leading to significant performance improvements in 2023/24.

Pension Credit

2019/20 was impacted by substantial spikes in claims following the BBC decision to remove free TV licences. Uptake in Pension Credit has been encouraged through campaigns and again led to unprecedented claims being received when entitlement was linked to additional Cost of Living payments. This created backlogs and impacted payment timeliness as these were recovered.

Disability Living Allowance (Child)

Disability Living Allowance ceased in 2013 and is no longer an active benefit, it was replaced by Personal Independence Payment. Disability Living Allowance for Children continues to accept new claims and as such we have responded in respect of this benefit.
Demand for Child DLA has increased in recent years and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic volumes.
During 2020-21 we deferred case renewal activity to focus on processing new claims. Since then the service has had to service both high new claims volumes and the deferred renewal work which has led to longer processing times.
We have increased the numbers of staff working on Child DLA to respond to increase new claims volumes, and clear cases in date order to ensure fair customer service.

Personal Independence Payment

PIP performance represents a significant recovery compared to prior periods and the lowest average journey time recorded since 2018 (see published statistics)
PIP New Claims demand is significantly higher than pre-Covid levels, despite the devolution of Scottish claims during this period.

Child Maintenance Service

Child Maintenance Service application volumes have been sharply increasing with CMS receiving more than 50% more in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This dip in performance over this time can largely be explained by this. More recently, the removal of the Application fee has also resulted in higher volumes.

Universal Credit

Data has been provided for the years 2018-19 to 2023-24. Detailed data by local areas is available via Stat Xplore within the Universal Credit Published Statistics (Universal Credit statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). Previous years requested are not retained centrally or published and the breakdown by nation and region would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

The 2023-24 figures for UC are not available until May as per the Statistics Release schedule.

Planned timescales for all benefits are listed in table 2 below.

Table 2: Planned Timescales for new claims (current methodology)

Jobseekers Allowance	Within 10 working days
Employment and Support Allowance	Within 10 working days
State Pension	Within 20 working days of State Pension entitlement date or 20 working days of Initial date of claim if claiming after entitlement has started.
Pension Credit	Within 50 working days
Disability Living Allowance (Child)	Within 40 working days
Personal Independence Payment	Within 75 working days
Child Maintenance Service	Payment within 12 weeks
Universal Credit	% Full Payment 1st Assessment Period

Written Question

Children: Maintenance

Wednesday 1st May 2024

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 proportion of new Child Maintenance claims have been completed within the planned processing timescales by (a) nation and (b) region in each year since 2012.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Table 1 - Percentage of new claims that have been completed within the planned processing timescales by benefit.

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jobseekers Allowance	88.6%	86.8%	80.6%	53.1%	82.5%	87.1%	67.8%	58.7%
Employment and Support Allowance	84.6%	85.3%	73.3%	96.1%	70.9%	42.5%	47.4%	39.5%
State Pension	87.9%	73.7%	86.8%	86.7%	76.2%	45.6%	72.0%	96.2%
Pension Credit	71.0%	55.2%	53.4%	44.8%	88.2%	74.3%	45.7%	77.7%
Disability Living Allowance (child)	96.8%	96.5%	96.2%	91.3%	92.1%	35.6%	4.6%	3.5%
Personal Independence Payment	85.1%	77.2%	72.3%	40.4%	23.0%	6.8%	38.4%	51.7%
Child Maintenance Service	82.8%	87.4%	88.3%	91.6%	84.3%	84.3%	79.4%	79.6%
Universal Credit			80.4%	85.2%	90.9%	85.7%	84.4%	TBC

Comments to note:

Data has been provided for the years 2016-17 to 2023-24 (UC 2018-19 to 2023-24). Previous years requested are not retained centrally and the breakdown by nation and region for services except UC would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

In the spirit of answering the question we have provided table 1 above.

Service Performance Context:

Jobseekers Allowance

From the start of the pandemic until April 2021, JSA claims were subject to easements that meant face-to-face appointment was removed. In April 2021, Claimant Commitments and regular face to face engagement requirements were reintroduced.

Employment and Support Allowance

ESA 2019-20 to 2023-24, the new claim process for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) changed. In April 2020 a digital claim was introduced during Covid. Prior to this, as part of the new claim process, a period up to 10 days at beginning was never measured. With the re-designed process all time is included, so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with the new claim process before April 2020.

State Pension

Performance was severely impacted due to the need to repivot resource to other areas, such as Universal Credit, during the global pandemic. In 2021/22, resource was re-deployed to work through the backlogs. Investment in digital services in this area has also aided recovery leading to significant performance improvements in 2023/24.

Pension Credit

2019/20 was impacted by substantial spikes in claims following the BBC decision to remove free TV licences. Uptake in Pension Credit has been encouraged through campaigns and again led to unprecedented claims being received when entitlement was linked to additional Cost of Living payments. This created backlogs and impacted payment timeliness as these were recovered.

Disability Living Allowance (Child)

Disability Living Allowance ceased in 2013 and is no longer an active benefit, it was replaced by Personal Independence Payment. Disability Living Allowance for Children continues to accept new claims and as such we have responded in respect of this benefit.
Demand for Child DLA has increased in recent years and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic volumes.
During 2020-21 we deferred case renewal activity to focus on processing new claims. Since then the service has had to service both high new claims volumes and the deferred renewal work which has led to longer processing times.
We have increased the numbers of staff working on Child DLA to respond to increase new claims volumes, and clear cases in date order to ensure fair customer service.

Personal Independence Payment

PIP performance represents a significant recovery compared to prior periods and the lowest average journey time recorded since 2018 (see published statistics)
PIP New Claims demand is significantly higher than pre-Covid levels, despite the devolution of Scottish claims during this period.

Child Maintenance Service

Child Maintenance Service application volumes have been sharply increasing with CMS receiving more than 50% more in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This dip in performance over this time can largely be explained by this. More recently, the removal of the Application fee has also resulted in higher volumes.

Universal Credit

Data has been provided for the years 2018-19 to 2023-24. Detailed data by local areas is available via Stat Xplore within the Universal Credit Published Statistics (Universal Credit statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). Previous years requested are not retained centrally or published and the breakdown by nation and region would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

The 2023-24 figures for UC are not available until May as per the Statistics Release schedule.

Planned timescales for all benefits are listed in table 2 below.

Table 2: Planned Timescales for new claims (current methodology)

Jobseekers Allowance	Within 10 working days
Employment and Support Allowance	Within 10 working days
State Pension	Within 20 working days of State Pension entitlement date or 20 working days of Initial date of claim if claiming after entitlement has started.
Pension Credit	Within 50 working days
Disability Living Allowance (Child)	Within 40 working days
Personal Independence Payment	Within 75 working days
Child Maintenance Service	Payment within 12 weeks
Universal Credit	% Full Payment 1st Assessment Period

Written Question

Universal Credit

Wednesday 1st May 2024

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 percentage of new Universal Credit claims have been completed within the planned processing timescales by (a) nation and (b) region in each year since 2012.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Table 1 - Percentage of new claims that have been completed within the planned processing timescales by benefit.

	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jobseekers Allowance	88.6%	86.8%	80.6%	53.1%	82.5%	87.1%	67.8%	58.7%
Employment and Support Allowance	84.6%	85.3%	73.3%	96.1%	70.9%	42.5%	47.4%	39.5%
State Pension	87.9%	73.7%	86.8%	86.7%	76.2%	45.6%	72.0%	96.2%
Pension Credit	71.0%	55.2%	53.4%	44.8%	88.2%	74.3%	45.7%	77.7%
Disability Living Allowance (child)	96.8%	96.5%	96.2%	91.3%	92.1%	35.6%	4.6%	3.5%
Personal Independence Payment	85.1%	77.2%	72.3%	40.4%	23.0%	6.8%	38.4%	51.7%
Child Maintenance Service	82.8%	87.4%	88.3%	91.6%	84.3%	84.3%	79.4%	79.6%
Universal Credit			80.4%	85.2%	90.9%	85.7%	84.4%	TBC

Comments to note:

Data has been provided for the years 2016-17 to 2023-24 (UC 2018-19 to 2023-24). Previous years requested are not retained centrally and the breakdown by nation and region for services except UC would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

In the spirit of answering the question we have provided table 1 above.

Service Performance Context:

Jobseekers Allowance

From the start of the pandemic until April 2021, JSA claims were subject to easements that meant face-to-face appointment was removed. In April 2021, Claimant Commitments and regular face to face engagement requirements were reintroduced.

Employment and Support Allowance

ESA 2019-20 to 2023-24, the new claim process for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) changed. In April 2020 a digital claim was introduced during Covid. Prior to this, as part of the new claim process, a period up to 10 days at beginning was never measured. With the re-designed process all time is included, so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with the new claim process before April 2020.

State Pension

Performance was severely impacted due to the need to repivot resource to other areas, such as Universal Credit, during the global pandemic. In 2021/22, resource was re-deployed to work through the backlogs. Investment in digital services in this area has also aided recovery leading to significant performance improvements in 2023/24.

Pension Credit

2019/20 was impacted by substantial spikes in claims following the BBC decision to remove free TV licences. Uptake in Pension Credit has been encouraged through campaigns and again led to unprecedented claims being received when entitlement was linked to additional Cost of Living payments. This created backlogs and impacted payment timeliness as these were recovered.

Disability Living Allowance (Child)

Disability Living Allowance ceased in 2013 and is no longer an active benefit, it was replaced by Personal Independence Payment. Disability Living Allowance for Children continues to accept new claims and as such we have responded in respect of this benefit.
Demand for Child DLA has increased in recent years and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic volumes.
During 2020-21 we deferred case renewal activity to focus on processing new claims. Since then the service has had to service both high new claims volumes and the deferred renewal work which has led to longer processing times.
We have increased the numbers of staff working on Child DLA to respond to increase new claims volumes, and clear cases in date order to ensure fair customer service.

Personal Independence Payment

PIP performance represents a significant recovery compared to prior periods and the lowest average journey time recorded since 2018 (see published statistics)
PIP New Claims demand is significantly higher than pre-Covid levels, despite the devolution of Scottish claims during this period.

Child Maintenance Service

Child Maintenance Service application volumes have been sharply increasing with CMS receiving more than 50% more in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This dip in performance over this time can largely be explained by this. More recently, the removal of the Application fee has also resulted in higher volumes.

Universal Credit

Data has been provided for the years 2018-19 to 2023-24. Detailed data by local areas is available via Stat Xplore within the Universal Credit Published Statistics (Universal Credit statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). Previous years requested are not retained centrally or published and the breakdown by nation and region would only be available at a disproportionate cost.

The 2023-24 figures for UC are not available until May as per the Statistics Release schedule.

Planned timescales for all benefits are listed in table 2 below.

Table 2: Planned Timescales for new claims (current methodology)

Jobseekers Allowance	Within 10 working days
Employment and Support Allowance	Within 10 working days
State Pension	Within 20 working days of State Pension entitlement date or 20 working days of Initial date of claim if claiming after entitlement has started.
Pension Credit	Within 50 working days
Disability Living Allowance (Child)	Within 40 working days
Personal Independence Payment	Within 75 working days
Child Maintenance Service	Payment within 12 weeks
Universal Credit	% Full Payment 1st Assessment Period

Written Question

Social Security Benefits

Wednesday 1st May 2024

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 his Department is taking to increase the number of claims processed within planned processing timescales.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department has seen a sustained increase in applications and demand for DWP services as a result of the pandemic and subsequent cost of living pressures, as well as ongoing publicity campaigns such as Help for Households and Pension Credit take-up.

Whilst we have seen an overall improvement in claims processed within planned timescales, and we expect that overall performance to continue to improve in the 24-25 figures, we acknowledge that across our services more needs to be done to improve the number of claims processed within the planned timescales.

Through recruitment in 23-24 we have started 17,166 people in new roles (and have further candidates due to start in Q1 of 24-25). This level of recruitment has resulted in a net increase in our Service Delivery resource levels to meet customer demand. We also have utilised our existing contracts with external partners to increase our service delivery capacity.

Across our service lines we continue to focus on productivity improvement activities, as well as continuing to modernise our benefit services through our digital transformation and Service Modernisation programmes, which mean an increasing number of claims can now be made online and through self-service. The Department strategy is to continue our modernisation programme, enable our people to focus on supporting more vulnerable customers who are unable to self-serve or need additional support.

Written Question

Prisons: Employment

Wednesday 1st May 2024

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prisoners have accessed support through Prison Work Coaches since the scheme's introduction; and how many of those prisoners entered the labour market as a result in each such year.

Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has around 200 Prison Work Coaches who provide benefit and employment support to prisoners in every prison across England, Scotland and Wales.

Data is not available on how many prisoners have accessed support through Prison Work Coaches.

We are pleased employment rates amongst prison leavers continue to improve. In the year to March 2023, 25.9% of prison leavers were employed 6 months post release, up from 17.3% in the previous year, excluding cases out of scope or where the status was unknown. This information is included in the Community Performance Annual, update to March 2023 which is published on gov.uk[1].

[1] Community Performance Annual, update to March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Written Question

Department for Work and Pensions: Labour Turnover

Tuesday 30th April 2024

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 the staff turnover rate for his Department is as of 25 April 2024.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The departments turnover figures are only available at the end of each month. The DWP turnover rate as of 31^st March 2024 is 7.3%.

Written Question

Department for Work and Pensions: Environment Protection

Tuesday 30th April 2024

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 progress his Department has made on meeting its Greening Government Commitment targets.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

DWP’s 2023/24 GGC performance is currently being collated and will be submitted to DEFRA at the end of May 2024. Therefore, 2022/23 is the latest full year of GGC data that is available and a summary of DWP’s performance (including our ALBs) against each of the headline GGC targets from 2022/23 is provided below. Further details of DWP’s performance (excluding ALBs) is available in DWP’s 2022/23 Annual Report and Accounts.

Target A: Mitigating climate change: working towards net zero by 2050

DWP reduced our total greenhouse gas emissions by 32% compared to the 17/18 baseline, which is on track to meet the target to reduce by 45% by 2024/25.

DWP reduced our direct greenhouse gas emissions by 1% compared to the 17/18 baseline. During the pandemic DWP took on c.200 additional properties to respond to national requirements. These buildings were still part of the estate in 2022/23 which impacted the direct greenhouse gas emissions performance; however, significant estate rationalisation has occurred during 2023/24 and we forecast we will meet the 2024/25 target to reduce by 17%.

Target B: Minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency

DWP reduced our total waste generated by 31% compared to the 2017/18 baseline, exceeding the target to reduce by 15% by 2024/25.

Target C: Minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency

DWP reduced our water consumption by 19% compared to the 2017/18 baseline, exceeding the target to reduce by 8% by 2024/25.

Target D: Procuring sustainable products and services

DWP has a sustainable procurement policy and ensures all procurement activities comply with the Government Buying Standards, meeting the target requirements.

Target E: Nature Recovery – making space for thriving plants and wildlife

DWP has developed a draft nature recovery plan and intend to finalise this before 2024/25 to meet the target requirements.

Target F: Adapting to climate change

DWP has developed a climate change adaptation strategy which includes a climate change risk assessment and climate change adaptation plan for its estates and operations, meeting the target requirements.

Target G: Reducing environmental impacts from information communication technology (ICT) and digital

DWP provide annual reporting data against the ICT & digital services strategy and provide membership to the sustainable technology advice and reporting team, meeting the target requirements.

Written Question

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Tuesday 30th April 2024

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals for all types of benefit case (a) are awaiting a hearing and (b) were awaiting a hearing on 22 April 2010 (i) nationally, (ii) by region, (iii) by Tribunal Office and (iv) by hearing venue.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The table below sets out the number of appeals for all types of benefit awaiting a hearing (i) nationally, (ii) by region, and (iv) by hearing venue as at end of December 2023 (the latest period for which data are available). There is no separate data collated at (iii) Tribunal office level.

Data for 22 April 2010 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

All SSCS Benefits at December 23¹
Region / Venue	Total Open Caseload	Ready To List	Listed For Hearing
London	11785	6166	1401
Bexleyheath	6	3	0
East London	2715	1443	349
Enfield	46	20	4
Fox Court	5765	2996	670
Hatton Cross	436	170	96
Romford	844	516	112
Sutton	1973	1018	170
Midlands	14569	7979	2084
Birmingham	3275	1668	603
Boston	299	196	33
Chesterfield	649	359	84
Coventry	1146	725	102
Derby	1047	618	142
Hereford	162	81	25
Kidderminster	193	93	37
Leicester	1305	700	160
Lincoln	693	422	71
Northampton	736	476	87
Nottingham	1666	906	256
Nuneaton	123	72	13
Shrewsbury	518	283	67
Stoke	681	379	78
Walsall	493	226	86
Wellingborough	280	169	31
Wolverhampton	1058	462	180
Worcester	245	144	29
North East (Leeds)	6382	2903	1205
Barnsley	314	126	67
Bradford	1055	542	178
Doncaster	448	191	75
Grimsby	300	138	57
Huddersfield	36	11	8
Hull	615	327	97
Leeds	957	341	193
Scarborough	241	111	53
Sheffield	1182	554	214
Wakefield	982	473	187
York	252	89	76
North East (Newcastle)	4775	2480	807
Bedlington	234	95	65
Berwick	20	9	4
Darlington	502	251	77
Durham	425	212	95
Gateshead	116	49	32
Newcastle	751	284	176
North Shields	208	56	63
South Shields	361	176	72
Sunderland	792	488	80
Teesside	1366	860	143
North West	10686	5704	1635
Barrow	108	65	12
Birkenhead	440	264	57
Blackburn	401	225	69
Blackpool	545	238	105
Bolton	613	303	108
Burnley	374	200	46
Bury	1	0	0
Carlisle	254	125	42
Chester	627	358	81
Lancaster	157	94	7
Liverpool	1640	778	234
Manchester	2159	1258	331
Preston	317	143	70
Rochdale	636	279	127
Runcorn	1	0	0
St Helens	676	373	99
Stockport	977	581	129
Wigan	581	327	82
Workington	179	93	36
Scotland	1557	411	508
Aberdeen	89	24	27
Ayr	101	20	40
Campbeltown Centre	2	0	0
Dumfries (Cairndale)	26	2	13
Dundee	88	18	22
Dunfermline	27	7	6
Edinburgh	315	92	114
Galashiels	28	9	8
Glasgow	489	143	155
Greenock	46	10	15
Hamilton	130	26	34
Inverness	63	9	24
Kilmarnock	7	2	2
Kirkcaldy	59	22	19
Kirkwall	1	0	1
Lerwick	3	0	1
Lewis	3	0	2
Oban	6	2	3
Stirling	65	22	19
Stranraer	4	2	1
Wick	5	1	2
South East	12225	7369	1200
Ashford	930	533	102
Basildon	399	200	75
Bedford	365	243	33
Brighton	1250	733	109
Cambridge	456	244	61
Chatham	616	434	60
Chelmsford	700	434	64
Eastbourne	135	88	11
Hastings	317	221	23
High Wycombe	509	291	55
Ipswich	619	409	37
Kings Lynn	269	136	33
Luton	605	365	46
Margate	322	197	29
Milton Keynes	309	172	38
Norwich	990	657	87
Oxford	551	351	58
Peterborough	467	243	56
Reading	593	352	53
Southend	220	109	42
Stevenage	239	137	19
Watford	1364	820	109
South West	9782	5401	823
Unallocated ²	247	156	18
Aldershot	555	309	52
Barnstaple	122	60	9
Bournemouth	12	0	1
Bristol	1922	1090	163
Exeter	385	132	55
Gloucester	715	421	54
Havant	1058	684	63
Newport IOW	319	225	20
Newton Abbot	383	190	37
Plymouth	623	303	62
Poole	801	417	67
Salisbury	73	20	12
Southampton	982	594	58
Swindon	532	322	35
Taunton	410	215	32
Truro	435	156	69
Weymouth and Dorchester	2	0	0
Worle	206	107	16
Wales	6471	3470	675
Aberystwyth	82	41	10
Caernarfon	179	64	26
Cardiff	2668	1455	310
Carmarthen	107	36	20
Haverfordwest	153	68	20
Langstone, Newport	1181	703	91
Llandrindod Wells	37	21	8
Llanelli	2	0	0
Llangefni	284	180	25
Port Talbot	531	232	45
Prestatyn	411	247	31
Swansea	317	140	34
Welshpool	81	46	14
Wrexham	438	237	41
SSCS Regional Centre Not Known	29	4	2
Grand Total	78261	41887	10340

From April 2023 the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new Scheduling and Listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new Strategic Data Platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

1. Data pulled 24/4/2024

2. Unallocated relates to appeals that have not yet been allocated to a venue.

Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that the data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when data are used.

Management information reflects the data held on the case management system, which is subject to change, and can differ from the quality-assured MOJ official statistics, which form the agreed definitive position.

Written Question

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Tuesday 30th April 2024

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Targeted Case Review agents there are as of 25 April 2024.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

As of the 31st of March, our Targeted Case Review team currently has 3,100 Full Time equivalent agents reviewing Universal Credit claims.

This is the most recent date for which data is available.

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