Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
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 effectiveness of her Department's work with Motability.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Motability Scheme is open to claimants who are in receipt of an eligible benefit. If a claimant elects to join the Scheme, the Department directly transfers the mobility allowance to Motability Operations on behalf of the eligible claimant. The Motability Scheme does not receive any direct funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.
A range of external bodies scrutinised the Scheme between 2018 and 2020, and the Government responded to each of the reports.
The Motability Foundation is independent of government, and regulated by the Charity Commission, so is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme. The department does however work closely with Motability and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Department officials have regular meetings with Motability and will continue to do so.
As the Minister for Social Security and Disability, I met with Motability Foundation in November 2024 to discuss the Scheme and its strategic objectives.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to continue her Department's relationship with Motability.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Motability Scheme is open to claimants who are in receipt of an eligible benefit. If a claimant elects to join the Scheme, the Department directly transfers the mobility allowance to Motability Operations on behalf of the eligible claimant. The Motability Scheme does not receive any direct funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.
A range of external bodies scrutinised the Scheme between 2018 and 2020, and the Government responded to each of the reports.
The Motability Foundation is independent of government, and regulated by the Charity Commission, so is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme. The department does however work closely with Motability and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Department officials have regular meetings with Motability and will continue to do so.
As the Minister for Social Security and Disability, I met with Motability Foundation in November 2024 to discuss the Scheme and its strategic objectives.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she last met with Motability; and what she had discussions on.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Motability Scheme is open to claimants who are in receipt of an eligible benefit. If a claimant elects to join the Scheme, the Department directly transfers the mobility allowance to Motability Operations on behalf of the eligible claimant. The Motability Scheme does not receive any direct funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.
A range of external bodies scrutinised the Scheme between 2018 and 2020, and the Government responded to each of the reports.
The Motability Foundation is independent of government, and regulated by the Charity Commission, so is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme. The department does however work closely with Motability and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Department officials have regular meetings with Motability and will continue to do so.
As the Minister for Social Security and Disability, I met with Motability Foundation in November 2024 to discuss the Scheme and its strategic objectives.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those reforms on the finances of people in receipt of carers' allowance caring for someone in receipt of PIP.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. The publication ‘Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts’ may be of interest. In particular, Table A1 on page 6 and Table A4 on page 9.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those reforms on people with (a) sarcoidosis, (b) ME and (c) other fluctuating health conditions.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of fraudulent claims there were for the Personal Independence Payment in each (a) nation and (b) region in each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We publish annual estimates of fraud and error levels in the benefit system in Great Britain, however as these figures are produced using sample data, they are not available below the national level.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to its employees that are kinship carers.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The potential support the Department for Work and Pensions provides to its employees that are kinship carers are, according to each person’s needs, a combination of flexi hours, flexible working patterns, special leave, adjusted duties and a carers’ passport to ensure that effective support can be transported when employees change jobs within DWP. Our employee assistance programme also offers wider support, which includes employee counselling, critical incident and bereavement support and legal/finance advice and signposting.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department last reviewed its policy on supporting its employees that are kinship carers.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP reviews the support it gives to carers in its workforce, including kinship carers, on an ongoing basis across a range of relevant HR policies. DWP last reviewed its policy on supporting its employees that are kinship carers, specifically in respect of time off work, in March 2024.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the formula used by the Child Maintenance Service to calculate the Flat Rate of child maintenance.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.
The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.
Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the formula used by the Child Maintenance Service to calculate the Flat Rate of child maintenance was last reviewed.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.
The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.
Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.