Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has read the report by Gingerbread published on 12 January 2018 which states that the majority of single parents do not receive child maintenance payments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Officials have read Gingerbread’s report and continue to work closely with a range of external stakeholders when developing policy. The analysis of child maintenance payments referred to in the report is based on data collected in 2011/12, so predates the introduction of the reformed child maintenance scheme in 2013. We want to ensure that children from all separated families have an effective maintenance arrangement. Child Maintenance Options provides free and impartial information to support parents to make arrangements that work for them.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, of 30 January 2018, Official Report, column 703 on PIP back payments, whether there will be a new form setting out descriptors.
Answered by Sarah Newton
We will undertake all the necessary steps to implement the Upper Tribunal judgment in MH in full.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any Ministers in her Department attended the Presidents Club Charity Dinner run by the Meller Educatonal Trust in an official capacity.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
No current Minister in her Department has attended the Presidents Club Charity Dinner run by the Meller Educational Trust in their official capacity.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the status is of the Government’s response to the International Labour Organisation’s Questionnaire on the proposed Convention on Ending Violence and Harassment Against Women and Men in the World of Work.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The Government welcomes the International Labour Organisation’s initiative to address violence and harassment against women and men in the world of work. The Government submitted a formal response to the ILO questionnaire in October 2017.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the Government plans to support the effective adoption of a Convention on making women and men safe at work (a) within and (b) outside of the ambit of International Labour Organisation’s Questionnaire.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The Government welcomes the International Labour Organisation’s initiative on ‘Ending Violence and Harassment for Women and Men at Work’ and will continue its close engagement with social partners in the UK and ILO members in seeking an outcome that reflects the key challenges and builds on UK good practice.
In the UK, the law requires employers to assess the risks to employees, including the risk of reasonably foreseeable violence, decide how significant those risks are and implement preventative or control measures. The law is underpinned by an effective regulatory framework, extensive guidance and information for employers and employees, and a social partner agreement, all aimed at preventing workplace harassment and violence.
The UK is also leading the way internationally in efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, generating world-leading innovation and evidence on the most effective interventions.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to amend income support rules to remove the requirement that women who have fled domestic violence with their children, and whose abusive ex-partner has been the recipient of child benefit, must wait until the child benefit award is switched to them before they can receive income support as lone parents.
Answered by Damian Hinds
There are no plans to change the rule that determines whether a person is responsible for a child in Income Support.
Women, or men, leaving the family home with their children because of domestic violence are able to claim other benefits without being paid Child Benefit. These are Universal Credit, or where that is not yet available, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, along with Housing Benefit.
Victims of domestic violence are not required to be available for work or carry out jobsearch activities in Jobseeker’s Allowance for up to 13 weeks and in Universal Credit for up to 6 months. Throughout this period their Work Coach is available to provide them with full support.
Asked by: Jess Phillips (Labour - Birmingham Yardley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2017 to Question 108338, on universal credit, what information his Department holds on split payments for universal credit.
Answered by Damian Hinds
We do not have data that has been quality assured