Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time is for (a) self-employed and (b) freelancer applications to Access to Work.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We do not hold separate average processing time data for (a) self-employed and (b) freelancer applications to Access to Work. These types of applications are included within the overall Access to Work processing time.
The current average processing time for access to work is 92.0 days from April 2025 to June 2025
Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of (a) working-age, (b) 18-24 year olds and (c) all Personal Independence Payment recipients that are in work scored less than four points in all daily living activities by (i) local authority, (ii) parliamentary constituency and (iii) region.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is provided in the excel workbook attached. A content of the tables provided in the attached workbook is below:
1ai | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024) |
1aii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
1aiii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024) |
1bi | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024) |
1bii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
1biii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024) |
1ci | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024) |
1cii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
1ciii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024) |
2ai | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024) |
2aii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
2aiii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) |
2bi | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024) |
2bii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
2biii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) |
2ci | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024) |
2cii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
2ciii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) |
The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment as conditions change over time.
After taking account of behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 in 10 of those on PIP daily living at the point any changes come in will still be receiving PIP by the end of the decade.
No one will lose access to PIP immediately - and most people will not lose access at all. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed at their award review. The average award review period is about three years. At the award review, claimants will be considered by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstances.
We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.
Even with these reforms, the overall number of people on PIP and DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23bn in 24/25 to £31bn in 29/30.
No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.
Notes:
- The volumes provided have been rounded to the nearest 10.
- HMRC data is used to determine whether a claimant was in employment. HMRC data covers up to the end of the tax year 2023/24, therefore March 2024 has been provided as the latest data available.
- Self-employment data from the financial year 2023/24 is not available until the end of the 2024/25 financial year, so self-employment data for the financial year 2022/23 has been used as a proxy for 2023/24 instead.
- People without any employment record in the HMRC data, as well as those who have been confirmed to not be in employment in the data, have been considered not employed.
- The data provided includes both normal rules and special rules for end of life claimants.
- The data provided excludes Scottish and Northern Irish claimants, as these claimants do not fall under DWP policy ownership.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of (a) working-age, (b) 18 to 24 year old and (c) all Personal Independence Payment recipients are in work by (i) local authority, (ii) parliamentary constituency and (iii) region.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is provided in the excel workbook attached. A content of the tables provided in the attached workbook is below:
1ai | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024) |
1aii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
1aiii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024) |
1bi | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024) |
1bii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
1biii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024) |
1ci | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024) |
1cii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
1ciii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024) |
2ai | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024) |
2aii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
2aiii | Volume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) |
2bi | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024) |
2bii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
2biii | Volume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) |
2ci | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024) |
2cii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024) |
2ciii | Volume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) |
The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment as conditions change over time.
After taking account of behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 in 10 of those on PIP daily living at the point any changes come in will still be receiving PIP by the end of the decade.
No one will lose access to PIP immediately - and most people will not lose access at all. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed at their award review. The average award review period is about three years. At the award review, claimants will be considered by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstances.
We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.
Even with these reforms, the overall number of people on PIP and DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23bn in 24/25 to £31bn in 29/30.
No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.
Notes:
- The volumes provided have been rounded to the nearest 10.
- HMRC data is used to determine whether a claimant was in employment. HMRC data covers up to the end of the tax year 2023/24, therefore March 2024 has been provided as the latest data available.
- Self-employment data from the financial year 2023/24 is not available until the end of the 2024/25 financial year, so self-employment data for the financial year 2022/23 has been used as a proxy for 2023/24 instead.
- People without any employment record in the HMRC data, as well as those who have been confirmed to not be in employment in the data, have been considered not employed.
- The data provided includes both normal rules and special rules for end of life claimants.
- The data provided excludes Scottish and Northern Irish claimants, as these claimants do not fall under DWP policy ownership.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department is able to produce statistics on PIP recipients broken down by (a) Output Areas and (b) lower layer Super Output Areas.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants by different geographic breakdowns can be found on Stat Xplore. You can use the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset and the ‘Geography’ filter to narrow down to the breakdowns you require.
For further guidance on how to use Stat Xplore, please see the User Guide here.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Personal Independence Payment recipients are in work in (a) Birmingham Northfield constituency, (b) Birmingham local authority area and (c) the West Midlands.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
For the proportion of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who are in work by different geographic breakdowns, please see table 1 below.
Table 1: the percentage of PIP claimants who are in work by different geographic breakdowns
Geography | Percentage of PIP claimants in work |
Birmingham Northfield PC | 18 |
Birmingham LA | 15 |
West Midlands | 19 |
Source(s): PIP Administrative Data and HMRC data
Notes:
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2024 to Question 45320 on Employment: Disability, how many complaints have been made against employers in each year for which figures are available.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The number of complaints received by the Disability Confident scheme made against employer members are as follows:
2020 – 35 (part year from June to December)
2021 – 65
2022 – 50
2023 – 54
2024 – 96
2025 – 21 (part year from January to March)
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employers have had Disability Confident status rescinded in each of the last five years.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
To date the Department has not suspended any employer from the scheme. We have worked with several employers who have been the subject of a complaint to improve their compliance with the scheme criteria.
There is a Disability Confident complaints process in place that sets out the steps that should be taken to address and resolve any concerns raised that an employer is failing to comply with Disability Confident criteria. More information is available here: Disability Confident complaints process.
If an employer has failed to take adequate steps to resolve an issue, and there is unambiguous evidence the employer is not adhering to the principles and criteria of the Disability Confident scheme, DWP has the right to suspend the Disability Confident status of the employer until they have taken the necessary action.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contracts (a) BFS Group Limited and (b) subsidiary companies of BFS Group Limited hold with (i) her Department and (ii) agencies of her Department.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP has no contracts listed with (a) BFS Group Limited or (b) any of its known subsidiary companies.
Similarly, we have identified no contracts listed between DWP Arm’s Length Bodies with (a) BFS Group Limited or (b) any of its known subsidiary companies.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 86 on page 31 of her Department's White Paper entitled Get Britain Working, published on 26 November 2024, whether the remit of the independent review into the role of UK employers in promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces will include data (a) quality and (b) collection methods.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The scope of the review is set out in the Keep Britain Working Terms of Reference which will be published on Gov.Uk on 24 January 2025. The review will consider evidence from a variety of sources and it will be for the review lead, Sir Charlie Mayfield, to determine how any data informs the development of recommendations.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19420 on Unemployment: Young People, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the ongoing data quality problems with the ONS Labour Force Survey on her Department's ability to monitor progress towards the 80 per cent employment target.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) are responsible for the LFS, which is an important source of labour market information for the Department. In order to monitor the department's progress towards an 80% employment rate we need a robust Labour Force Survey (LFS). As such, we are engaging regularly with the ONS on these data issues and supporting ONS to improve the quality of the LFS.
The Department for Work and Pensions also continues to make more use of statistics based on administrative data (for example, benefit caseloads or HMRC PAYE data) alongside LFS statistics to form the best labour market view.
The ONS are also working on the Transformed Labour Force Survey to replace the LFS. The Department are working closely with the ONS and other government to ensure it is fit for purpose and provides reliable estimates of labour market trends.
We remain focussed on getting more people into work to grow our economy and improve living standards across all parts of the country.