Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure that visually impaired job applicants are guaranteed adequate magnification facilities on workplace computers, and that they are not discriminated against in job application processes.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Under the Equality Act (2010), employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for employees who have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. When a disabled person thinks they might have been treated unfairly and want further advice, they should contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service here: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
Most, if not all, computer operating systems have screen magnification options built into their Accessibility settings. Physical screen magnifying equipment is not usually expensive and may well fall within the scope of a reasonable adjustment. However, if there are any instances where expensive specialist screen magnification equipment is required for an employee or a job applicant, it may be possible for Access to Work (ATW) to support its provision.
Access to Work is a demand-led, discretionary grant scheme which provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. The scheme does not replace the duty an employer has under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments. Instead it provides support that is over and above that which is a reasonable adjustment. More information about Access to Work can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work.
We are promoting the skills and talents of disabled people and those with long term health conditions to employers through the Disability Confident Scheme. The Scheme focuses on the role of employers, who have a crucial role to play in ensuring disabled people are recruited, retained and developed in their careers. We are also using Disability Confident to disseminate information about employers’ responsibilities and the support available for both employers and individuals. You can find out more about Disability Confident here: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's policy is on compensating people affected by the clawback feature of the Midland Bank pension scheme.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Such arrangements are not a DWP matter. It is a decision for employers and trustees to operate “clawback” or “integrated” pension scheme arrangements.
There are no plans to legislate to compel schemes to withdraw an integration arrangement. Any retrospective change would impose significant additional unplanned costs. Pension scheme rules on the calculation of benefits are many and varied, and must remain a matter for employers and scheme trustees to decide.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
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 potential merits of unfreezing local housing allowance.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
There are no plans to lift the four year Local Housing Allowance (LHA) freeze before April 2020.
The Government recognises however that the impact of this measure varies across the country, especially in areas of high rental growth and therefore recycles 30 per cent of the savings from the LHA Freeze to create Targeted Affordability funding. This funding is used to increase LHA rates in areas where local rents have diverged the most. For example in 2017/18 48 LHA rates have been increased by 3 per cent. Further Targeted Affordability Funding will be made available in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
In addition since 2011, the Government has provided around £900 million in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities (LAs) to protect vulnerable claimants and support households affected by different welfare reforms including the freeze to LHA rates.