Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28705 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, whether the Minister for Social Security and Disability discussed policy on engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain prior to accepting the invitation to the dinner.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Policy on engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain was not discussed prior to attending this event.
This engagement will not be recorded as a ministerial meeting. As the value of hospitality did not surpass the de minimis level, this event will not be recorded in hospitality returns.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28705 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, if he will declare his attendance at the Muslim Council of Britain's leadership dinner on 20 January 2025 in ministerial (a) meetings and (b) hospitality returns.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Policy on engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain was not discussed prior to attending this event.
This engagement will not be recorded as a ministerial meeting. As the value of hospitality did not surpass the de minimis level, this event will not be recorded in hospitality returns.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce the proportion of pensioners in financial poverty in Isle of Wight East constituency.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The last Labour Government lifted over one million pensioners out of poverty, and this Government, despite having to make the tough decisions to deal with our fiscal inheritance, remains committed to giving pensioners the security they deserve in retirement.
We are honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension and the new State Pension, and we are also increasing the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit by 4.1%. The full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500.
Pension Credit provides extra money to help with living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income. We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit. We want to ensure as many people as possible have access to this support and urge pensioners to check their eligibility. Pension Credit will passport them to receive other benefits – including Winter Fuel Payments, help with rent, council tax, fuel bills and a free TV licence for those over 75. That’s why Government is taking significant steps to raise awareness and maximise take-up.
Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what further support may be available to them. They may be able to receive support from energy support programmes or through the Household Support Fund, a scheme providing discretionary support to those most in need towards the cost of essentials, such as food, energy and water.
The Government has extended the Household Support Fund in England by a further year, (until 31 March 2026) – with funding of £742 million provided to enable this extension in England, plus additional funding for the devolved Governments to be spent at their discretion, as usual.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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 pensioners on low incomes in Isle of Wight East constituency.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The last Labour Government lifted over one million pensioners out of poverty, and this Government, despite having to make the tough decisions to deal with our fiscal inheritance, remains committed to giving pensioners the security they deserve in retirement.
We are honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension and the new State Pension, and we are also increasing the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit by 4.1%. The full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500.
Pension Credit provides extra money to help with living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income. We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit. We want to ensure as many people as possible have access to this support and urge pensioners to check their eligibility. Pension Credit will passport them to receive other benefits – including Winter Fuel Payments, help with rent, council tax, fuel bills and a free TV licence for those over 75. That’s why Government is taking significant steps to raise awareness and maximise take-up.
Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what further support may be available to them. They may be able to receive support from energy support programmes or through the Household Support Fund, a scheme providing discretionary support to those most in need towards the cost of essentials, such as food, energy and water.
The Government has extended the Household Support Fund in England by a further year, (until 31 March 2026) – with funding of £742 million provided to enable this extension in England, plus additional funding for the devolved Governments to be spent at their discretion, as usual.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Minister for Social Security and Disability travelled to the Muslim Council of Britain's leadership dinner on 25 January 2025 by Ministerial car; whether the invitation was (a) received and (b) accepted through his Ministerial office; whether he has made a declaration of hospitality; and whether Government business was discussed at the event by the Minister.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I travelled by public transport to and from the Muslim Council of Britain leadership dinner on the evening of 20 January 2025. My ministerial office was not involved in the invitation arrangements.
I was at the event for approximately an hour, and consumed only a glass of water. No ministerial business was discussed.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) internal policy reviews, (b) independent reviews, (c) external reviews, (d) taskforces, (e) public consultations, (f) investigations and (g) other reviews their Department launched between 5 July 2024 and 5 January 2025; what the titles were of those reviews; and how many of those reviews have been (i) completed and (ii) published.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government has outlined its ambitions through the Plan for Change, which sets out an ambitious set of milestones - across the missions - for this Parliament.
As the House would expect, Government continually reviews its work to ensure that it is delivering the best outcomes for the people of the United Kingdom, and that its policies continue to represent the best value for the taxpayer.
Public reviews will be available on Gov.uk as they are published.