Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many computers are available for public use in Jobcentres in (a) each region of England and (b) the UK.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is detailed below and is from internal DWP data which is correct at the time of this response.
a) English regions
Region | Number of devices |
Southern England | 1380 |
London & Home Counties | 1128 |
Central | 1214 |
Northern England | 2096 |
b) UK
Region (total) | Number of devices |
England | 5818 |
Scotland | 784 |
Wales | 480 |
We also have improved access to our Wi-Fi services in all jobcentres, allowing customers to use their own personal devices to access internet services.
We also constantly review the number of PC’s available for customers and have capacity to increase the number of devices quickly, if the need arises.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the end on the Post Office Card Account on vulnerable people that use that service.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department’s contract with Post Office Limited for the Post Office Card Account is due to end in 2021.
For vulnerable customers who are unable to open or operate a standard account, the Department will implement a replacement payment service.
Customer insight has influenced business requirements for the new service which outline the positive outcomes that must be achieved to ensure that the payment needs of individuals who are in a vulnerable situation are met. This includes the ability to obtain cash payments from a network of payment outlets in their local area (including suburban and rural locations).
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to limit a person's pension age rise when age eligibility for the state pension is increased.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government published its review of State Pension age in July 2017. The report can be viewed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630065/state-pension-age-review-final-report.pdf.
The next Government review of State Pension age will be completed within six years of that report.
The Pensions Act 2014 requires the Government to regularly review State Pension age and report to Parliament, to help to ensure the rules about State Pension age are appropriate having regard to life expectancy and the costs of increasing longevity are shared fairly between the generations, and provide greater clarity around the plans for changing State Pension age in the future.
The changes to State Pension age became law following consultation and extensive debates in Parliament. During the passage of the Pensions Act 2011, Parliament introduced limits to person’s State Pension age rise, worth £1.1 billion, which reduced the proposed increase in State Pension age for over 450,000 men and women, meaning that no woman will see her pension age change by more than 18 months, relative to the original 1995 Act timetable.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what specific qualifications are required to operate as a disability assessor for her Department.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Health Professionals that carry out Work Capability and Personal Independence Payment assessments on behalf of the department must have the following qualifications and experience:
Health Professionals are subject to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in disability assessment for both physical and mental health conditions and have to be approved by the department. Health Professionals are then required to complete a programme of continuing professional development.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of additional claims that will be made for pension credit following the limiting of free TV licences to people aged over 75 claiming that benefit.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The BBC made its announcement about future eligibility of free TV licences on Monday 10 June. It is too early for an assessment of the potential impact on additional Pension Credit claims to be made. Official statistics on the take-up of income related benefits, including pension credit at general Great Britain level can be found in the ‘Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up in 2016 to 2017’ publication. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017
The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on https://gov.uk/ , in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.
Potential customers can use the Pension Credit https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234.
One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit
The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.
Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the recent changes for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
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 ensure that people with learning disabilities are given (a) adequate support and (b) opportunities to hold down meaningful employment.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Improving employment opportunities for people with a learning disability is a Government priority. We take a life course approach and are working with other Departments to tackle barriers to employment that start early in life. For example, we work with Department for Education on implementing the Maynard Task Force recommendations which help people with learning disabilities to access Apprenticeships. DWP is also testing ways to improve our support to this group, through initiatives like the Local Supported Employment proof of concept, which seeks to build our evidence base on how we can best help users of adult social care (many of whom have learning disabilities) to be able to work.
Through Disability Confident, we are encouraging employers to offer more opportunities to disabled people, including people with a learning disability. Nearly 12,000 employers are signed up to the scheme and we recently announced our commitment to increase this number to 20,000 over the year.
Access to Work supports disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, who are in work or participating on Traineeships, apprenticeships or supported internships. Last year, record numbers of people with learning disabilities received support from Access to Work, with figures up 22% on 16/17.
The Government is working with the Supported Business Alliance (SBA) and The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) to:
This will help those with the most severe barriers to work, including people with learning disabilities.
We are investing £40m in a new Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, which rolls out in late 2019 and is expected to benefit 10,000 people. It will provide highly personalised packages of employment support for disabled people, including those with a learning disability, who are at least a year away from moving into work.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
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 employers in creating equal opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the workplace.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Improving employment opportunities for people with a learning disability is a Government priority. We take a life course approach and are working with other Departments to tackle barriers to employment that start early in life. For example, we work with Department for Education on implementing the Maynard Task Force recommendations which help people with learning disabilities to access Apprenticeships. DWP is also testing ways to improve our support to this group, through initiatives like the Local Supported Employment proof of concept, which seeks to build our evidence base on how we can best help users of adult social care (many of whom have learning disabilities) to be able to work.
Through Disability Confident, we are encouraging employers to offer more opportunities to disabled people, including people with a learning disability. Nearly 12,000 employers are signed up to the scheme and we recently announced our commitment to increase this number to 20,000 over the year.
Access to Work supports disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, who are in work or participating on Traineeships, apprenticeships or supported internships. Last year, record numbers of people with learning disabilities received support from Access to Work, with figures up 22% on 16/17.
The Government is working with the Supported Business Alliance (SBA) and The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) to:
This will help those with the most severe barriers to work, including people with learning disabilities.
We are investing £40m in a new Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, which rolls out in late 2019 and is expected to benefit 10,000 people. It will provide highly personalised packages of employment support for disabled people, including those with a learning disability, who are at least a year away from moving into work.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February to Question 221633 on Jobcentres: Computers, how many JobPoints/JobKiosks were available for public use in each of the regions of England in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The information requested is not held.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total number of computers available for public use in Jobcentres in England was in each year since 2010.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The information requested is detailed below and is from internal DWP data which has not been quality assured to official statistical standards:
Reliable data for the period 2010-2013 is not held.
In 2014 national roll-out of customer devices* was completed by June 2014, with a total in England of 6761.
Between 2015 and 2018 these devices were maintained in England at 6761.
In 2019 the number of customer devices in jobcentres in England has reduced to 6409 due to the rationalisation of the DWP Estate. These figures include 44 new up to date customer devices which have been installed and are currently being trialled in 3 offices in England from 2019. This should result in all devices in England being replaced during 2019 with new bespoke machines designed to support the Universal Credit customer journey.
Notes:
* A desktop computer available for public use, available for the majority of time with the exception of servicing and updates.
These figures do not include “JobPoints/JobKiosks” that could be used by the public for job search activities and which were completely decommissioned by November 2014.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many computers have been available for public use in Jobcenters in each region of England in each year since 2010.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The information requested is detailed below and is from internal DWP data which has not been quality assured to official statistical standards:
Reliable data for the period 2010-2013 is not held.
For the period 2014-2019 the number of devices * is detailed in the table below:
Region | Years 2014-2018 | Number of devices |
Southern |
| 1101 |
London & Home Counties | 1794 | |
Central | 1553 | |
North West | 1050 | |
North East | 1263 | |
Region | Year: 2019 | Number of devices |
Southern |
| 1044 |
London & Home Counties | 1723 | |
Central | 1462 | |
North West | 992 | |
North East | 1188 |
For 2019 the number of customer devices in jobcentres in England has reduced overall to 6409, due to the rationalisation of the DWP Estate. These figures include 44 new up to date customer devices which have been installed and are currently being trialled in 3 offices in England from 2019. This should result in all devices in England being replaced during 2019 with new bespoke machines designed to support the Universal Credit customer journey.
Notes:
* A desktop computer available for public use, available for the majority of time with the exception of servicing and updates.
These figures do not include “JobPoints/JobKiosks” that could be used by the public for job search activities and which were completely decommissioned by November 2014