Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help people understand the risks associated with pension transfers.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Pension transfer regulations require trustees and scheme managers to carry out due diligence before processing a transfer request. Where a potential risk of a scam is identified, the transfer may be stopped. In cases where there are risk indicators but the transfer could still be genuine, the member must receive mandatory guidance from MoneyHelper before the transfer can proceed. In these cases, members must attend an appointment with the Money and Pensions Service, which helps them recognise scams, assess risks, and make an informed decision before proceeding. Additional resources are available through the Financial Conduct Authority’s ScamSmart tool and its Pension Scams Consumer Guide, offering practical advice on spotting warning signs, verifying investments, and reporting suspected scams.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many enforcement actions have been taken (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully by local authorities participating in the Rent Repayment Order pilot since its inception.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A full breakdown of enforcement actions categorised as successful or unsuccessful is not yet available, as several cases remain ongoing and the pilot is in its early stage. However, this will be considered as part of the pilot’s planned formal evaluation.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 adequacy of the enforcement regime under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 for detering unregistered gas works.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) which address the safe installation, maintenance, and use of gas systems, in commercial and domestic premises. These regulations require that no employer or self-employed person shall carry out gas work if they are not registered with the Gas Safe Register (GSR). HSE and Local Authorities regulate this through enforcement powers set under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Enforcement powers available to regulators include prosecution, prohibition notices and improvement notices.
HSE applies the principles laid down in the published Enforcement Policy Statement (EPS) and Enforcement Management Model (EMM) to ensure that enforcement action is targeted, consistent and proportionate to the health and safety risks present and the seriousness of the breach.
In 2024/2025, HSE issued 44 prohibition notices in relation to unregistered gas work against 42 businesses and prosecuted 3 individuals for illegal gas work. In addition, GSR conducted 522 site investigations into unregistered gas work.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to introduce additional preventative measures to reduce unregistered gas works.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the enforcing authority for gas businesses and engineers (including self- employed gas engineers) who work in people's homes. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) requires engineers undertaking gas work to be competent, registered with Gas Safe Register (GSR), and to work in accordance with the appropriate standards and in a way that does not put people in danger.
HSE and Local Authorities regulate this through enforcement powers set under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Enforcement powers available to regulators include prosecution, prohibition notices and improvement notices. GSR also has a dedicated team to investigate allegations of gas work by unregistered engineers and businesses (illegal gas fitters) and provides HSE with evidence of these activities.
In addition to this, GSR publishes a range of gas safety information and guidance on its website, and regularly runs media campaigns to promote key gas safety messages to the public. This includes promoting and delivering the annual national safety campaign “Gas Safety Week” which has wide ranging coverage.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 that enhanced focus on skills results in long-term employment outcomes for claimants.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government’s ‘Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper’, published in October last year at Post-16 education and skills white paper - GOV.UK, set out the plan to give people the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, support growth across the country, and drive national renewal.
My Department recognises the importance of essential skills, (such as training in English, Mathematics and Digital skills) which are particularly relevant for unemployed claimants, for seeking and staying in work. The White Paper indicates the intention to review our adult essential skills offers to ensure it includes the skills most relevant to support progression into employment, education and training. In addition, we have developed foundation apprenticeships, offering a structured, supported route into skilled employment for young people who might otherwise be left behind. Also, through Local Get Britain Working plans we will support the development of a thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity for good work, to get on in work and where we increase the current employment rate.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to extend the Rent Repayment Order data sharing scheme to additional local authorities.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is currently running a Rent Repayment Order pilot with 41 local authorities. The purpose of the pilot is to assess the effectiveness of the scheme and its impact on enforcement activity. We will evaluate the pilot and subject to positive findings, we plan to implement nationally.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out the selection criteria for the local authorities added to the Rent Repayment Order data sharing scheme.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to develop and implement the Rent Repayment Order pilot. The opportunity to participate was offered to all local authorities through Operation Jigsaw, an organisation currently funded by MHCLG, which brings together 309 local housing authorities in England to support the sharing of expertise, best practices, and vital intelligence both regionally and nationally to raise housing standards in the private rented sector.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance has the Building Safety Regulator issued to principal accountable persons and building owners on identifying and managing potential structural risks associated with transfer slabs.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) posted correspondence on gov.uk on 19 December 2025 alerting building owners about potential risks associated with transfer slabs (Potential risks from transfer slabs in buildings - GOV.UK). This provided some initial guidance to building owners on how they should respond to the risk.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 (a) skills and (b) training support provided through Jobcentre Plus on claimants’ likelihood of remaining in work for more than six months.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This government recognises the importance of skills and training support given to people attending a Jobcentre, as there is well established evidence that individuals with higher levels of skills are more likely to be in employment or education (Employment by qualification level - GOV.UK Ethnicity facts and figures). This is why we are addressing claimants’ skills needs as part of the new Jobs and Careers Service.
No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of a) skills and b) training support on likelihood of claimants remaining in work for more than six months.
However, Sector-based Academy Work Programmes (SWAPs) are the department’s leading skills intervention for unemployed claimants, combining pre-employment training support with work experience over a period up to 6 weeks long.
We recently published an Impact Assessment showing the long term impact of SWAPs on an individual’s likelihood of being in work following a SWAP. It demonstrated that SWAPs are successful in supporting participants into employment and keeping them employed longer term. Two years after starting a SWAP, for every 100 people an additional 13 individuals moved into unsubsidised employment, compared to 100 similar individuals who did not participate in one.
Sector-based Work Academy Programme: A Quantitative Impact Assessment - GOV.UK
The Department also publishes management information showing the proportion of people in work three and six months after starting a SWAP, providing further transparency on the short- and medium-term employment outcomes associated with participation in these programmes.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance the Building Safety Regulator has issued on when residents should be decanted from buildings containing transfer slabs, including on such decisions being proportionate to the level of risk.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) posted correspondence on gov.uk on 19 December 2025 alerting building owners about potential risks associated with transfer slabs (Potential risks from transfer slabs in buildings - GOV.UK). This provided some initial guidance to building owners on how they should respond to the risk.