Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will list the countries hosting cloud-based data as contracted by her Department.
Answered by Will Quince
DWP host cloud-based data in the following countries:
United Kingdom
Eire
Netherlands
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory cyber security training sessions civil servants working in her Department are required to undertake.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Each year all DWP staff are required to complete mandatory security eLearning which includes cyber security.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 212675 on Personal Independence Payment, for what reason the treatment of dialysis whilst in a hospital is not classified as therapy in relation to personal independence payment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Personal Independence Payment Activity 3, which relates to managing therapy including dialysis, assesses a persons need for supervision, prompting and assistance in managing their therapy at home. Therapy provided at hospital is managed by the NHS and whilst PIP sits alongside the support provided by the NHS it is not intended to duplicate that support.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what performance indicators her Department has established for the length of time that a work capability reassessment should be carried out before the expiry of a current assessment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Work Capability Assessments do not have expiry dates or performance indicators. As part of the Work Capability Assessment a healthcare professional gives advice on when they consider that a claimant should be reassessed, based on when it is expected that the individual’s condition will have improved to the point where looking for work may become a realistic option. Claimants are encouraged to provide any additional evidence in support of their claim, including from supporting medical professionals, which is taken into account in making the decision on their claim, including when the re-referral date is set.
Re-referral dates can be 3, 6, 12, 18 or 24 months for those who have limited capability for work. For those who have limited capability for work-related activity, a three-year re-referral date can be recommended. Furthermore, from 29 September 2017 those placed in ESA’s Support Group and the UC equivalent who have the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function would always mean that they would have Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity, and be unlikely ever to be able to move into work, will no longer be routinely reassessed.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason dialysis is not classified as therapy in relation to personal independence payment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Dialysis is considered within the Personal Independence Payment Activity 3 – managing therapy or monitoring a health condition.
This activity recognises the needs of a person requiring supervision prompting or assistance to undertake therapy at home which has been prescribed or recommended by a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or health professional regulated by the Health Professions Council.
Where a person requires supervision, prompting or assistance to undertake home dialysis they can score points under activity 3.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent current progress she has made on the roll-out of a pensions dashboard.
Answered by Guy Opperman
On Tuesday 4 September 2018, I published a written statement providing an update on pensions including the pensions dashboard. This can be found here: : https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-04/HCWS933/
We will shortly report on the findings of the Feasibility Study, and will engage with industry, consumer groups and other stakeholders to agree timelines for delivery.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people with diverticulitis through the welfare system.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is an income replacement benefit, available for people with health conditions or disabilities, including diverticulitis who face barriers to work.
People claiming ESA are offered support through the Personal Support Package to help them move closer to the Labour Market. The package is for people with health conditions and disabilities, with a range of interventions and initiatives designed to provide support that is tailored to the individual needs of claimants.
Universal Credit (UC) is replacing Income-related ESA and the linked disability premiums, including the Severe Disability Premium. This is will simplify the benefits processes and better target support. UC claimants are assigned a dedicated Work Coach to support them throughout their claim. This builds relationships and trust, and means Work Coaches can identify and address any specific needs the claimant may have as a result of their health condition.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides a contribution towards the extra costs that disabled people can face and is assessed on needs arising rather than being condition specific. There are currently 620 people in receipt of PIP whose main disabling condition is recorded as being diverticular disease of diverticulitis.