Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 94068 on Universal Credit: Veterans, if he will set out the reasons for differences in how Armed Forces Pensions and service attributable pensions are taken into account for the purposes of calculating Universal Credit payments.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In common with the legacy benefits it replaces, Universal Credit takes into account money available from other sources which allow a claimant to support themselves, allowing a fair balance to be struck between those in the greatest financial need and taxpayers who fund the welfare system. The general principle is that income, other than earnings, which is provided to meet everyday living costs is fully taken into account in the calculation of Universal Credit
As occupational and private pensions are paid to provide support to help people meet their living costs, they are taken fully into account in the assessment of entitlement to Universal Credit. This includes regular Armed Forces pensions, which are treated the same as any other occupational pension.
However, income which is provided to meet additional costs relating to disability is not taken into account. Therefore, payments relating to special schemes for compensation, and those relating to personal injury, are not taken into account as unearned income. Consequently, War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Payments are not taken into account in Universal Credit. Guaranteed Income Payments, Service Attributable Pensions and service-attributable, non-taxable Service Invalidity Pensions are also not taken into account.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of salary sacrifice pension scheme changes on the value of occupational pension funds.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are taking a pragmatic approach to reforming pension contributions made via salary sacrifice, the costs of which were set to nearly triple to £8bn between 2017 and the end of this decade. The £2,000 cap means that only 5% of workers earning below £30,000 making salary sacrificed contributions will be affected. And the government continues to support pension saving with no changes to pensions tax relief, worth over £70 billion a year.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 94068 on Universal Credit: Veterans, whether the rules have changed since July 2024.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
With regards to the Answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 94068, there have been no changes since July 2024.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government is purchasing houses in multiple occupation in Spelthorne to accommodate asylum seekers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and support to destitute asylum seekers while their claims are considered. The procurement and management of Asylum accommodation is undertaken via the accommodation providers and is conducted in line with the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts, which are available at: Contracts Finder - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Procurement of accommodation by the contracted providers is undertaken in line with the Asylum Accommodation Plans, which ensures the distribution of asylum seekers is balanced across local authorities across the UK. This approach is designed to prevent any single area from being overburdened and to promote a fair, evidence-based allocation of asylum accommodation nationwide.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an armed forces pension is treated as unearned income for the purpose of calculating Universal Credit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Regular, unearned income payments that are paid to meet living costs cause reductions in the customer’s Universal Credit entitlement pound for pound. This includes occupational pensions such as Armed Forces Pensions.
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Payments are not taken into account in Universal Credit. Guaranteed Income Payments, Service Attributable Pensions and service-attributable, non-taxable Service Invalidity Pensions are also not taken into account.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if there are any biological men in HMP Bronzefield.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
As of 1 November, no biological males were being held at HMP Bronzefield.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the use of catapults as offensive weapons.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention chaired a meeting with concerned MPs and the Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals at DEFRA to discuss this issue.
We are clear that catapults should not be used against wildlife, property or people, and we are convening a roundtable to understand the problem better and to identify what more can be done.
We are conducting a round table to consider the matter further.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where the River Thames Scheme is on the Environment Agency's register.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Taking the register referred to as meaning a risk register, the River Thames Scheme is managed as part of the Environment Agency’s (EA’s) capital FCRM Investment programme and is therefore captured within the wider programme-level corporate risk register, rather than as an individual project risk. FCRM Investment programme risks are overseen and managed through the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) assurance framework, ensuring consistent oversight and mitigation across all major schemes. The approach focuses on managing uncertainty and delivery risk collectively to ensure the programme remains within acceptable risk tolerance while maintaining delivery confidence and value for money. The EA’s risk management framework follows standards set out in the UK Government ‘Orange Book’.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the value of profits made by Corporate Travel Management under the Stanwell Hotel asylum contract; and whether any profits made have been returned to the Government.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office entered into an agreement with Corporate Travel Management (CTM) in April 2025. Accommodation at the Stanwell Hotel is provided as part of the contracted services.
Given this contract has been in place for a short period of time, the first financial returns have not yet been provided to the Home Office. These will be made available to the Home Office for review at the next quarterly supplier relationship management board taking place shortly.
The contract between the Home Office and CTM does not include profit share or commission share mechanisms.
Asked by: Lincoln Jopp (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of introducing a digital identity system on levels of equality.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As we build and deliver digital ID, the government will undertake the biggest ever programme to drive digital inclusion, to ensure that every person can access all the benefits of using digital tools to access public services.
We are working with expert organisations and community groups to identify barriers and risks early, and that inclusion programmes reach people where they are.
More details will be set out in our public consultation later this year.