Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
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 improve the assessment process for personal independence payments.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Since its inception, the system of assessing claimants’ eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been continually reviewed and refined in order to improve its efficiency, effectiveness and the claimant experience. We have worked extensively with PIP assessment providers and disability rights groups to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures in order to ensure a quality service.
The Government’s response to Paul Gray’s independent review of the process can be found at:
The Government has committed in legislation to a further independent review which will report by April 2017.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
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 effect of the European Social Fund on levels of unemployment in the UK.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
By the end of 2014, a total of 688,625 participants had entered work on leaving provision during the life of the European Social Fund (ESF) 2007-2013 programme for England and Gibraltar. In addition, based on a representative survey of participants we estimate that 1,115,297 were in work 6 months after leaving provision.
The European Social Fund Cohort Study (2012–2014) provides further evidence of the impact of the programme and can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-social-fund-esf-cohort-study-2012-to-2014
The responsibility for ESF is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
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 number of people helped into work through funding provided under the European Social Fund.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
By the end of 2014, a total of 688,625 participants had entered work on leaving provision during the life of the European Social Fund (ESF) 2007-2013 programme for England and Gibraltar. In addition, based on a representative survey of participants we estimate that 1,115,297 were in work 6 months after leaving provision.
The European Social Fund Cohort Study (2012–2014) provides further evidence of the impact of the programme and can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-social-fund-esf-cohort-study-2012-to-2014
The responsibility for ESF is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for which countries that the UK has reimbursement arrangements with under the European Health Insurance Card regulations his Department has identified as not having staff with relevant language skills.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
There is no requirement for DWP staff to have foreign language skills when dealing with EEA Member States in relation to the reimbursement process under the EHIC regulations.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what languages his Department's overseas health team is trained to speak.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
There is no requirement for DWP staff to have foreign language skills when dealing with EEA Member States in relation to the reimbursement process under the EHIC regulations.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many reimbursement claims his Department has received from UK citizens for health treatment in other European countries for each of the last five years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The number of reimbursement claims the DWP Overseas Healthcare Team received from UK citizens for health treatment in EEA Member states is as follows:
2011 - 24616
2012 - 24447
2013 - 30228
2014 - 25034
2015 – 15793