Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling people to verify their (a) income and (b) identity online through secure access to their benefit data.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All claimants must answer security questions to confirm they are who they say they are, to protect their information and prevent fraud. When a claimant creates a UC account, they must complete security questions. When a claimant signs into their account, they will need to complete their security questions, answering exactly as they initially entered them.
If the claimant phones us, we will ask them their security questions.
The UC application process is different for each claimant, including those from remote and island communities. When applying for UC, a claimant must confirm their identity by using the on-line service, as part of the claim process. Where a claimant has not attempted online verification, or has attempted and failed, then they will be asked to attend a face-to-face interview (F2F). This is to ensure the claimant is who they say they are, and to prevent fraud.
If a claimant is having a problem verifying their identity online and has not been able to do this, the Jobcentre will call and book an appointment to verify the claimant’s identity. Appointments may be by phone, or face-to-face in our Jobcentres.
Further information about verifying identify can be found on Understanding Universal Credit - How to claim.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic and (b) social impact of enabling Universal Credit recipients to share their benefit data with consent with regulated third parties.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Customers can choose to share their information with third parties, including Universal Credit statements.
As a modern digital service Universal Credit is iterated all the time. We are always looking to make improvements to the design and build. Universal Credit undertake user research with customers and stakeholders to gain feedback on their experiences and suggestions for improvements. We always take into consideration the users of the service, including individual impacts as well as any wider implications which involve customers and their data.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support the Government’s Open Data Agenda; and whether she plans to expand secure access to selected datasets for the purposes of reducing financial exclusion.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP promotes a culture of encouraging data sharing for public good whilst ensuring this is done in a secure, legal and ethical way. DWP requires both a lawful basis and legal power to share personal data. DWP already has over 1,300 live data shares with other government departments, agencies & public bodies. DWP also shares data with private companies where there is a need in support of the department’s priorities, for example, data sharing with utility companies to support reduced rates for DWP customers. These shares support operations, fraud & error, debt recovery, research & analysis and national statistics. Demand for DWP data is high, often because eligibility for a third party’s service is dependent on a citizen’s DWP benefit circumstances, for example, Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling data sharing between her Department's systems.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Whenever DWP determines to share personal data from one system to another system, several legal and ethical constraints must be considered, especially under the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. To comply with UK GDPR principles, data can only be reused if the new purpose is compatible with the original one, there is a lawful basis, we are transparent with individuals about the new use, we only share what is necessary and we protect the data appropriately. DWP already shares personal data between some systems and has the freedom to undertake further internal sharing where it is compliant with regulations.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that autism is considered in delivery plans for the Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November 2024.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
A range of stakeholders have provided input and expertise to support policy development and delivery of the reforms outlined in the Get Britain Working White Paper.
Our aim is to create an inclusive labour market in which everybody – including neurodivergent people – can participate and progress in work. We will do this by developing a new Jobs and Careers service, which will be accessible and inclusive for all users, and will provide personalised and tailored support to those looking to find or progress in work. It will also work in partnership with other local services, helping people to access the employment, health and skills support they need in their community.
Additionally, the Keep Britain Working review is exploring how employers can support healthy and inclusive workplaces. Findings from the initial discovery phase were published in March, and now the review Chair and team are engaging with a range of stakeholders to discuss the problems and how they can be addressed.
Finally, we have launched an independent panel of academics with expertise and experiences of neurodiversity to advise us on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work. Many of the panel are diagnosed or identify as neurodivergent and/or have familial experience alongside their professional experience and expertise. Recommendations are expected to include employer actions that can support the inclusion of neurodivergent people, including in recruitment and day to day workplace practices.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 potential merits of chiropractors in supporting people in Rushcliffe constituency to return to work.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Whilst no assessment has been made on the potential merits of chiropractors in supporting people in Rushcliffe constituency to return to work, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire & Rutland District offers a range of employment support interventions for individuals experiencing health issues. This includes support from Disability Employment Advisors who offer a Direct Support appointment service, looking into removing barriers, identifying any reasonable adjustments and delivering individually tailored support, including in-work support.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she (a) is taking and (b) plans to take steps to regulate hygiene standards within the (i) hairdresser, (ii) barber and (iii) beauty industries.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Businesses in the hair and beauty sector, which includes barber shops, hairdressers and beauty salons are required to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations, which place duties on businesses to assess the risk of infection for employees and others affected by their work, including members of the public.
While Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has the policy lead for the hair and beauty sector, responsibility for enforcing health and safety legislation at individual businesses rests with the local authority where the premises are located.
Where there is evidence that risks are not being properly managed, local authorities are able to intervene and take appropriate enforcement action to ensure that employees and customers are protected.
Local authorities are also responsible for managing hygiene standards in businesses, but this is not within HSE’s remit.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 full-time carers return to work after a prolonged period of absence.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Our Get Britain Working plan aims to reduce economic inactivity levels and take the first steps to delivering our long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive, to succeed and flourish. This includes unpaid carers, too many of whom are excluded from the labour market because of their caring responsibilities.
Support includes identifying skills gaps and referral to skills training, careers advice, job search support, volunteering opportunities and access to the Flexible Support Fund to aid job entry. Unemployed customers who require more intensive employment support can also be referred to the Restart programme.
Customers providing care for fewer than 35 hours a week receive personalised support through their Jobcentre Plus work coach to help them find work and their work expectation is tailored to fit caring responsibilities. Full-time carers who also want to work who are eligible for additional financial support through the Carers Allowance will benefit from a 30 % increase to the earnings limit to 16 hours at National Living Wage from this month, allowing them to earn up to £196 per week.
DWP also provides information to help carers and potential unpaid carers make informed decisions about combining work and care through their JobHelp Care choices site.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
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 help (a) deaf and (b) other disabled people to find work.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched on 26 November will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate.
Employers play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, to thrive as part of the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, Support with Employee Health and Disability service a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.
Appropriate work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live.
Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals, including those who are deaf, to stay in work and get back into work, including those initiatives that join up employment and health systems.
Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care.