Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the targeted measures announced in the Budget 2023 on reducing economic inactivity among people aged 50-64.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Employment is up, vacancies down and economic inactivity has reduced since the Budget in March 2023.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps to help ensure the accessibility of sanitary products for people in poverty.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
In 2023/24, the Government will spend around £289 billion through the welfare system in the UK.
Overall, the government is providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living and has taken a number of steps to ensure that necessities like period products are available and affordable for all who need them.
Since 2020 the Department for Education has run a fully funded scheme which makes free period products available for all state-funded primary and secondary schools and college. The scheme gives girls and women easy access to period products at school or college, breaking down stigma and ensuring that no young person’s education is disrupted by their period.
In addition, period products are essential, which is why a zero rate of VAT applies. This is part of the Government's wider strategy to make period products affordable and available for all women.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people (a) with hearing loss and (b) who list their primary medical condition as difficulty in hearing were recorded as being economically inactive for the reason of (i) being a student, (ii) looking after family or home, (iii) being temporarily sick, (iv) being long-term sick, (v) being a discouraged worker, (vi) being retired and (vii) other reasons in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The available data for disabled people is shown in the tables below.
Information on unpaid family workers for people with difficulty in hearing is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information on people with hearing loss and difficulty in hearing on supported training and employment programmes is not held by the department.
Number and proportion of disabled people by labour market status and main health condition, 16 to 64, UK:
| All disabled people | ||||
Labour market status | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Total | 7,470,000 | 7,820,000 | 8,270,000 | 8,280,000 | 9,010,000 |
In employment | 50.8% | 51.4% | 53.5% | 52.3% | 54.3% |
Employee | 42.3% | 43.2% | 45.2% | 44.8% | 46.7% |
Self-employed | 8.0% | 7.8% | 8.0% | 7.1% | 7.4% |
Unemployed | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.2% |
Economically inactive | 44.4% | 43.9% | 42.4% | 43.1% | 41.5% |
Student | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.0% |
Looking after family / home | 6.7% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.7% | 5.8% |
Temporary sick | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
Long-term sick | 25.6% | 25.1% | 24.6% | 24.8% | 23.9% |
Retired | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
Other reasons | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Difficulty in hearing | ||||
Labour market status | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Total | 70,000 | 70,000 | 80,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 |
In employment | 64.9% | 61.1% | 63.8% | 66.5% | 67.7% |
Employee | 55.6% | 52.0% | 56.1% | 60.3% | 62.5% |
Self-employed | 9.2% | 9.2% | 7.0% | 5.2% | 5.0% |
Unemployed | 4.3% | 6.7% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 3.5% |
Economically inactive | 30.8% | 32.1% | 30.2% | 27.7% | 28.7% |
Student | 1.5% | 4.4% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
Looking after family / home | 5.7% | 7.0% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 7.1% |
Temporary sick | 0.3% | 1.8% | 1.3% | .. | 0.3% |
Long-term sick | 16.0% | 9.2% | 9.4% | 6.8% | 2.3% |
Retired | 4.0% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.9% | 3.1% |
Other reasons | 3.4% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 6.4% |
Source: Annual Population Survey (APS).
Underlying data (except employee and self-employed breakdowns for disabled people with difficulty in hearing) is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-employment-of-disabled-people-2022.
Notes:
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people (a) with hearing loss and (b) who list their primary medical condition as difficulty in hearing in employment were in employment as (i) an employee, (ii) self-employed, (iii) unpaid family workers and (iv) part of a Government supported training and employment programme in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The available data for disabled people is shown in the tables below.
Information on unpaid family workers for people with difficulty in hearing is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information on people with hearing loss and difficulty in hearing on supported training and employment programmes is not held by the department.
Number and proportion of disabled people by labour market status and main health condition, 16 to 64, UK:
| All disabled people | ||||
Labour market status | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Total | 7,470,000 | 7,820,000 | 8,270,000 | 8,280,000 | 9,010,000 |
In employment | 50.8% | 51.4% | 53.5% | 52.3% | 54.3% |
Employee | 42.3% | 43.2% | 45.2% | 44.8% | 46.7% |
Self-employed | 8.0% | 7.8% | 8.0% | 7.1% | 7.4% |
Unemployed | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.2% |
Economically inactive | 44.4% | 43.9% | 42.4% | 43.1% | 41.5% |
Student | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.0% |
Looking after family / home | 6.7% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.7% | 5.8% |
Temporary sick | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
Long-term sick | 25.6% | 25.1% | 24.6% | 24.8% | 23.9% |
Retired | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
Other reasons | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Difficulty in hearing | ||||
Labour market status | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Total | 70,000 | 70,000 | 80,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 |
In employment | 64.9% | 61.1% | 63.8% | 66.5% | 67.7% |
Employee | 55.6% | 52.0% | 56.1% | 60.3% | 62.5% |
Self-employed | 9.2% | 9.2% | 7.0% | 5.2% | 5.0% |
Unemployed | 4.3% | 6.7% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 3.5% |
Economically inactive | 30.8% | 32.1% | 30.2% | 27.7% | 28.7% |
Student | 1.5% | 4.4% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
Looking after family / home | 5.7% | 7.0% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 7.1% |
Temporary sick | 0.3% | 1.8% | 1.3% | .. | 0.3% |
Long-term sick | 16.0% | 9.2% | 9.4% | 6.8% | 2.3% |
Retired | 4.0% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.9% | 3.1% |
Other reasons | 3.4% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 6.4% |
Source: Annual Population Survey (APS).
Underlying data (except employee and self-employed breakdowns for disabled people with difficulty in hearing) is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-employment-of-disabled-people-2022.
Notes:
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people (a) with hearing loss and (b) who list their primary medical condition as difficulty in hearing were (i) in employment, (ii) economically inactive and (iii) unemployed in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The available data for disabled people is shown in the tables below.
Information on unpaid family workers for people with difficulty in hearing is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information on people with hearing loss and difficulty in hearing on supported training and employment programmes is not held by the department.
Number and proportion of disabled people by labour market status and main health condition, 16 to 64, UK:
| All disabled people | ||||
Labour market status | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Total | 7,470,000 | 7,820,000 | 8,270,000 | 8,280,000 | 9,010,000 |
In employment | 50.8% | 51.4% | 53.5% | 52.3% | 54.3% |
Employee | 42.3% | 43.2% | 45.2% | 44.8% | 46.7% |
Self-employed | 8.0% | 7.8% | 8.0% | 7.1% | 7.4% |
Unemployed | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.2% |
Economically inactive | 44.4% | 43.9% | 42.4% | 43.1% | 41.5% |
Student | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.0% |
Looking after family / home | 6.7% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.7% | 5.8% |
Temporary sick | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
Long-term sick | 25.6% | 25.1% | 24.6% | 24.8% | 23.9% |
Retired | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
Other reasons | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Difficulty in hearing | ||||
Labour market status | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Total | 70,000 | 70,000 | 80,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 |
In employment | 64.9% | 61.1% | 63.8% | 66.5% | 67.7% |
Employee | 55.6% | 52.0% | 56.1% | 60.3% | 62.5% |
Self-employed | 9.2% | 9.2% | 7.0% | 5.2% | 5.0% |
Unemployed | 4.3% | 6.7% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 3.5% |
Economically inactive | 30.8% | 32.1% | 30.2% | 27.7% | 28.7% |
Student | 1.5% | 4.4% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
Looking after family / home | 5.7% | 7.0% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 7.1% |
Temporary sick | 0.3% | 1.8% | 1.3% | .. | 0.3% |
Long-term sick | 16.0% | 9.2% | 9.4% | 6.8% | 2.3% |
Retired | 4.0% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.9% | 3.1% |
Other reasons | 3.4% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 6.4% |
Source: Annual Population Survey (APS).
Underlying data (except employee and self-employed breakdowns for disabled people with difficulty in hearing) is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-employment-of-disabled-people-2022.
Notes:
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications made to the Access to Work Scheme are outstanding as of 12 December 2022; and what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of outstanding applications.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We can confirm that as of 12 December 2022, 25,103 applications made to Access to Work are currently outstanding.
Access to Work has received a significant increase in applications over the last year and have recruited new staff to meet the increased demand and reduce the time it takes to make decisions. Customers making new applications, where they are starting work within the next 4 weeks or have a grant coming to an end that requires renewal, are prioritised to ensure customers are able to enter and remain in the labour market. We are also transforming the Access to Work service through increased digitalisation, which will make the service more efficient, the application process easier, and improve the time taken from application through to decision.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November to Question 75894 on Access to Work Programme, which stakeholders have attended Access to Work stakeholder forums and the Operational Stakeholder Engagement Forum which his Department's staff have attended in the last 12 months; and which stakeholders his Department's staff have met individually in that period.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
DWP Operational Stakeholder Engagement Forum has met on 10 occasions since November 2021 with 48 representatives:
British Limbless Ex Services Men's Association
Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation
Local Government Association (Social Security Advisors Group)
Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)
National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA)
National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers
Royal British Legion Industries
Royal National Institute of Blind People
Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)
The Regional Access to Work Stakeholder Forums are organised and led by stakeholders, and as DWP does not convene these forums we are unable to provide the information requested.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 65709 on Access to Work Programme, how many times his Department has met what stakeholder groups.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Access to Work stakeholder forums are run and delivered by stakeholders with DWP policy and service delivery teams attending on average 3 times per year. In addition, we meet other stakeholder groups and provide contributions for DWP Operational Stakeholder Engagement Forum on an ad-hoc basis. It is not possible to quantify the numbers of stakeholder engagements. The department does not hold historic data on the overall number of meetings with stakeholder groups.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of working with external organisations to help address delays to the Access to Work scheme.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Access to Work is continuing to work closely with a wide range of stakeholder groups, including through attendance at the Access to Work Stakeholder Forums in England, Scotland and Wales and engagement with individual stakeholder groups. Through this engagement, we are continuing to provide regular updates on current service levels, recruitment and other activities aimed at improving the customer journey, as well as seeking and responding to feedback from representatives about the current service and planned improvements.
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2022 to Question 28414 on Access to Work Programme, how many applications to their Department's Access to Work Scheme are outstanding as of 5 September 2022; and what steps their Department are taking to tackle those outstanding applications.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Department's Access to Work Scheme had 25,101 applications outstanding as of 5 September 2022.
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.
Access to Work (AtW) are currently receiving an increased level of applications for support and are working through all applications to ensure that they are progressed as soon as possible, as well as recruiting new team members to increase capacity.
For applications where a customer is due to begin a new job in the next 4 weeks (whether employed or self-employed), their case will be prioritised, and contact made as soon as possible. Renewal applications for on-going support are also being prioritised and in the majority of cases, support approved using a new streamlined process.
All other Case Managers are deployed to work on the oldest outstanding cases and overtime working for AtW staff is also being used.