Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people applied for attendance allowance under the special rules for people with terminal illness in each of the last five years.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information on claims awarded under the special rules for people with terminal illness is available from the DWP Tabulation Tool: http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/tabtool.html.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on administration costs related to attendance allowance in 2015-16.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The total administrative cost of Attendance Allowance for 2015/16 is not available.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis have taken early retirement after receiving that diagnosis.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
No data or information is available concerning the number of people diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis that have taken early retirement after receiving that diagnosis.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to produce child poverty statistics at (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituency level.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Through the Welfare Reform and Work Act we have introduced new life chances measures to track children in workless households and children’s educational attainment. These – and other measures to be brought forward in our forthcoming Life Chances Strategy – will help drive action on those areas that make the most difference to children’s lives.
We will continue to publish data on low income through the annual Households Below Average Income statistics. The number and proportion of children in relative low income is not available at local authority or constituency level. This is because the survey sample sizes are too small to support the production of robust estimates at this geography.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contingency plans his Department has put in place to support people unable to reach Jobcentre Plus appointments as a result of recent flooding.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
When a claimant is unable to attend a scheduled appointment at the Jobcentre, we will look to re-arrange for a more convenient time.
Due to the recent flooding, where we are aware claimants are experiencing travelling difficulties in attending JCP appointments, we are contacting them to discuss alternative arrangements including excusal of attendance.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department is giving to seasonal workers who have been affected by recent flooding.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Jobcentres in areas affected by the recent flooding have ensured staff and work coaches are available to support any increase in immediate claims. Work coaches will provide an individually tailored service to help and support their return to work as quickly as possible. Those workers affected by the recent flooding are referred to employers who are still recruiting.
We would urge those affected, who have not already done so, to contact their local Jobcentre at their earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make transitional arrangements for women affected by changes to the state pension age introduced during the 2010 Parliament.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 November 2015 to Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North), Question UIN 15476
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many requests he has received for an inquiry into benefit sanctions.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
We have interpreted this question to mean how many requests the Secretary of State has received for an inquiry into benefit sanctions since taking post.
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
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 proposal to reduce the employment and support allowance work-related activity group rate on patients recovering from cancer.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. These are available on the Parliament website: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/welfarereformandwork/documents.html
Asked by: Jamie Reed (Labour - Copeland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 7882, what steps his Department plans to take to identify and support vulnerable young people who are in need of support for their housing.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
This Government is determined to end long term youth unemployment, and support all young people into work. In order to prevent young people slipping straight into a life on benefits, from April 2017 we will remove automatic entitlement to housing support for new claims in Universal Credit from 18-21 year olds who are out of work. This measure ensures young people in the benefits system face the same choices as young people who work and who may not be able to afford to leave home.
However, we will ensure that vulnerable young people who are in need of support for their housing needs continue to receive it. Government will consider the impact in line with our legal obligations as part of that process.
We have invited key stakeholders to engage with the Department on this policy and discuss the exemptions for vulnerable young people.