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 she will take steps to increase the level of financial support for low-income families with more than two children.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and the Child Poverty Taskforce has started urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025. We published our framework ‘Tackling Child Poverty: Developing Our Strategy’ on 23 October and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.
The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment to over £30 million to roll out free breakfast clubs at all primary schools, reducing the cap on UC deductions to 15%, further extending the Household Support Fund until 31 March 2026, and increasing the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour boosting the pay of over 3m workers. Alongside this, we are committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to do.
We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty. Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched on 26 November will target and tackle economic inactivity and unemployment and join up employment, health and skills support to meet the needs of local communities.
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 she is taking to help tackle child poverty.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and the Child Poverty Taskforce has started urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025. We published our framework ‘Tackling Child Poverty: Developing Our Strategy’ on 23 October and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.
The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment to over £30 million to roll out free breakfast clubs at all primary schools, reducing the cap on UC deductions to 15%, further extending the Household Support Fund until 31 March 2026, and increasing the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour boosting the pay of over 3m workers. Alongside this, we are committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to do.
We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty. Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched on 26 November will target and tackle economic inactivity and unemployment and join up employment, health and skills support to meet the needs of local communities.
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 her Department plans to take to ensure that her proposed policy of accessing benefit claimants' bank accounts does not disproportionately impact (a) people with disabilities and (b) other vulnerable groups.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Eligibility Verification measure will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. The proposed new power instead helps verify benefit eligibility, using very limited information from banks and other financial institutions.
DWP has existing safeguards in place to support our most vulnerable claimants and under the Public Sector Equality Duty, the impacts of this policy will continue to be monitored to mitigate any potential unintended, negative consequences.
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 her Department has made of the potential impact of the Fraud, Error and Debt Bill on the (a) mental health and (b) wellbeing of (i) benefit claimants with (A) disabilities and (B) long-term illnesses and (ii) other benefit claimants.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Safeguarding vulnerable claimants is always a priority. All the powers included in the Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will include strong safeguards to ensure they are only used appropriately and proportionately – including new independent oversight and reporting mechanisms. The Bill will be clearly defined in its scope and there will be clear limitations for the use of all the powers we are introducing. DWP staff will receive training on the use of any new powers. We will rely on Codes of Practice where they already exist and, where they do not, we will consult on and produce new Codes of Practice to provide further reassurance on the safe use of the powers.
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 her Department has made of the compatibility of plans to access to benefit claimants' bank accounts with existing (a) data protection restrictions and (b) human rights privacy rights.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Eligibility Verification Measure will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information as to what claimants spend their money on. The proposed new power instead helps verify benefit eligibility, using very limited information from banks and other financial institutions
DWP will ensure that any data is processed and held in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The Department routinely handles large volumes of data and has robust security processes in place to manage this. The department will conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment at the appropriate time.
DWP will also ensure that any interference with the rights to private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights is justified as in accordance with the law and proportionate
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 her Department has made of the potential merits of alternative methods to reduce fraud and error in the benefits system that would not involve granting her Department's investigators access to claimants’ bank accounts.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled to the money. This Government will reduce these levels to stop those looking to defraud the system and reduce the risk of individuals building up large overpayments.
The Eligibility Verification Measure, which will allow banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility, has been proposed after extensive consideration and policy development as the most effective way to prevent incorrect payments and crucially, help prevent debts accruing for claimants. As the National Audit Office pointed out, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments.
The Eligibility Verification Measure will not give DWP powers to access anyone’s bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. Claimants fulfilling their responsibilities by promptly and accurately reporting any changes in their circumstances will not be impacted by these changes.
We will ensure that these powers are proportionate by setting out key safeguards, reporting mechanisms and independent oversight, to give greater confidence to claimants that the powers are being used fairly and effectively.
We will rely on Codes of Practice where they already exist and, where they do not, we will consult on and produce new Codes of Practice to provide further reassurance on the safe use of the powers.
Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.
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 her Department plans to conduct a public consultation on the proposed powers for her Department's investigators to scrutinise benefit claimants’ bank accounts.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled to the money. This Government will reduce these levels to stop those looking to defraud the system and reduce the risk of individuals building up large overpayments.
The Eligibility Verification Measure, which will allow banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility, has been proposed after extensive consideration and policy development as the most effective way to prevent incorrect payments and crucially, help prevent debts accruing for claimants. As the National Audit Office pointed out, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments.
The Eligibility Verification Measure will not give DWP powers to access anyone’s bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. Claimants fulfilling their responsibilities by promptly and accurately reporting any changes in their circumstances will not be impacted by these changes.
We will ensure that these powers are proportionate by setting out key safeguards, reporting mechanisms and independent oversight, to give greater confidence to claimants that the powers are being used fairly and effectively.
We will rely on Codes of Practice where they already exist and, where they do not, we will consult on and produce new Codes of Practice to provide further reassurance on the safe use of the powers.
Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.
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 types of data would be collected from benefit claimants’ bank accounts under the proposed policy.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) in the proposed Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will require banks and financial institutions to look within their own data to highlight where someone may not be eligible for the benefits they are receiving. Banks will share minimal information which will be used by DWP to support further inquiry into potential incorrect payments if there is a possible conflict with the benefit eligibility rules, such as the £16,000 capital limit in Universal Credit or individuals living abroad without notifying the Department.
EVM will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. The State Pension will be excluded from the scope of this measure given its near universality and minimal eligibility requirements.
DWP will ensure that any data is processed and held in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Compliance with data protection legislation is also overseen by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The Department routinely handles large volumes of data and has robust security processes in place to manage this. DWP will draw on that experience in designing the processes needed for the EVM and delivery will be built in collaboration with the banking industry to ensure it is as secure as possible. The Department will conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment at the appropriate time.
Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.
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 her Department plans to take to monitor the use of powers granting her Department's investigators access to benefit claimants’ bank accounts.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled. We are determined to reduce those levels.
As set out by the National Audit Office, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments. The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) in the proposed Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. It will require banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility by flagging possible conflicts with eligibility rules – for example the £16,000 capital limit in Universal Credit. The information gathered will help DWP identify incorrect payments, prevent debts from accruing for the claimant and help identify where there may be fraudulent activity.
The legislation will set out key safeguards, including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight. No benefit entitlement decision will be made solely because of the data obtained under EVM and a final decision on benefit entitlement will always involve a human agent. If a claimant wishes to challenge or appeal a benefit decision, they can do so following DWP's appeals processes.
Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.
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 her Department plans to take to allow benefit claimants to challenge or appeal decisions made based on scrutiny of their bank accounts.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled. We are determined to reduce those levels.
As set out by the National Audit Office, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments. The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) in the proposed Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. It will require banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility by flagging possible conflicts with eligibility rules – for example the £16,000 capital limit in Universal Credit. The information gathered will help DWP identify incorrect payments, prevent debts from accruing for the claimant and help identify where there may be fraudulent activity.
The legislation will set out key safeguards, including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight. No benefit entitlement decision will be made solely because of the data obtained under EVM and a final decision on benefit entitlement will always involve a human agent. If a claimant wishes to challenge or appeal a benefit decision, they can do so following DWP's appeals processes.
Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.