Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are waiting for a decision on their Access to Work scheme claim as of October 2026, and whether this has increased since May 2026.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Access to Work Backlog (UIN HCWS34) made on 19 May 2026.
This Government inherited a substantial backlog of around 57,000 Access to Work cases awaiting a decision beyond the expected timescales. In our manifesto, we committed to clearing this backlog and we have made significant progress towards that commitment. We have increased the number of staff working on Access to Work by around 30% (from 500 in March 2024 to 657 in March 2026) and continued to prioritise applications where a customer is due to start work within four weeks. As a result, we have eliminated delays in making payments and cleared around 96% of cases where a customer was due to start work within four weeks in 28 days.
Building on this progress, earlier this year we announced a clear plan of action to clear the backlog in applications by September 2027. As part of that plan, in September 2026 we started recruiting an additional 480 case staff to process the higher volume of applications. When recruitment is complete, we will have more than twice as many staff working on Access to Work as there were in March 2024. The first cohorts of new case managers and case workers have begun comprehensive training and will shortly enter a supported consolidation period, helping to build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to deliver high-quality decision making.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what a) number and b) proportion of applications to the Access to Work scheme were rejected between the financial years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Access to Work Backlog (UIN HCWS34) made on 19 May 2026.
This Government inherited a substantial backlog of around 57,000 Access to Work cases awaiting a decision beyond the expected timescales. In our manifesto, we committed to clearing this backlog and we have made significant progress towards that commitment. We have increased the number of staff working on Access to Work by around 30% (from 500 in March 2024 to 657 in March 2026) and continued to prioritise applications where a customer is due to start work within four weeks. As a result, we have eliminated delays in making payments and cleared around 96% of cases where a customer was due to start work within four weeks in 28 days.
Building on this progress, earlier this year we announced a clear plan of action to clear the backlog in applications by September 2027. As part of that plan, in September 2026 we started recruiting an additional 480 case staff to process the higher volume of applications. When recruitment is complete, we will have more than twice as many staff working on Access to Work as there were in March 2024. The first cohorts of new case managers and case workers have begun comprehensive training and will shortly enter a supported consolidation period, helping to build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to deliver high-quality decision making.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the number of outstanding Access to Work scheme payments are as of October 2026, and if this has increased since May 2026.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Access to Work Backlog (UIN HCWS34) made on 19 May 2026.
This Government inherited a substantial backlog of around 57,000 Access to Work cases awaiting a decision beyond the expected timescales. In our manifesto, we committed to clearing this backlog and we have made significant progress towards that commitment. We have increased the number of staff working on Access to Work by around 30% (from 500 in March 2024 to 657 in March 2026) and continued to prioritise applications where a customer is due to start work within four weeks. As a result, we have eliminated delays in making payments and cleared around 96% of cases where a customer was due to start work within four weeks in 28 days.
Building on this progress, earlier this year we announced a clear plan of action to clear the backlog in applications by September 2027. As part of that plan, in September 2026 we started recruiting an additional 480 case staff to process the higher volume of applications. When recruitment is complete, we will have more than twice as many staff working on Access to Work as there were in March 2024. The first cohorts of new case managers and case workers have begun comprehensive training and will shortly enter a supported consolidation period, helping to build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to deliver high-quality decision making.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps she is taking to a) verify how many Civil Service Pension Scheme cases have been closed, b) assess how many have resulted in payments and c) ensure unresolved cases are progressed.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Ministers have been clear that Capita’s performance has fallen short of acceptable standards, which is why the Government has taken definitive action and agreed a new Recovery Plan with Capita. Portal queries or contact forms should not be closed without providing a full response to the issue raised. Related to this, Capita recently updated the information available on the members’ portal website. Although a recent portal update aimed to consolidate duplicate cases into a single master case while retaining all information, it caused member concerns that queries were being shut down inaccurately. Where there are concerns that cases have been closed incorrectly, this is being investigated with Capita. To verify the adequacy and consistency of case handling and data, the Government has deployed independent auditors from the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) directly onto Capita’s operational premises, to examine Capita’s case processing methodologies, test the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes, and evaluate the quality of quotations and calculations.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) consistency of the explanation, resolution, or payment provided when Civil Service Pension Scheme cases are closed on Capita’s online portal.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Ministers have been clear that Capita’s performance has fallen short of acceptable standards, which is why the Government has taken definitive action and agreed a new Recovery Plan with Capita. Portal queries or contact forms should not be closed without providing a full response to the issue raised. Related to this, Capita recently updated the information available on the members’ portal website. Although a recent portal update aimed to consolidate duplicate cases into a single master case while retaining all information, it caused member concerns that queries were being shut down inaccurately. Where there are concerns that cases have been closed incorrectly, this is being investigated with Capita. To verify the adequacy and consistency of case handling and data, the Government has deployed independent auditors from the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) directly onto Capita’s operational premises, to examine Capita’s case processing methodologies, test the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes, and evaluate the quality of quotations and calculations.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and officials in the Department for Transport regarding the future supply of seafarer Apprentices to the ferry industry from nautical colleges in coastal communities.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government recognises the important role that maritime training and employment opportunities play in supporting growth, productivity and skills development in coastal communities. The Department for Transport, which leads government policy on the maritime sector, engages with other departments such as DfE and DWP, where workforce needs relate to the wider skills system. Through Skills England, Government are working with employers and sector bodies so that occupational standards underpinning apprenticeships and technical qualifications reflect current and future needs. Skills England’s Occupational Maps also help people understand routes into maritime careers.
As part of its routine review of apprenticeships, Skills England launched a recent call for feedback from employers regarding the future of five maritime apprenticeships. Responses from industry were strongly in support of retention, and my noble Friend the Minister for Skills took the decision to retain all five apprenticeships in light of industry feedback.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve the management of liver disease in primary care with respect to (a) destigmatising service delivery (b) increasing knowledge and awareness of liver disease.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Commissioning of primary care management of liver disease is managed at an integrated care board level.
General practitioners are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high-quality care to all patients.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the impact on the nutrient profiling model on obesity.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 31 March in response to Question 120152, on 1 July in response to Question 8994, and on 7 September in response to Question 19910.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure hospitals receive adequate funding.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that the NHS is under pressure. We have:Published the 10-Year Health Plan that will put the NHS on a sustainable footing by shifting towards prevention and community care, which will reduce pressure on hospitals.
Delivered record investment that will see annual NHS day-to-day spending increase by £29 billion in real terms (£53 billion cash increase) from 2024-25 to 2028-29.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the adequacy of maritime (a) training and (b) employment opportunities in coastal communities.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises the vital role of maritime training and employment in supporting growth and opportunity in coastal communities.
The Department for Transport leads government policy on the maritime sector and, where maritime workforce needs relate to the wider skills system, engages with the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions, who work closely on skills and employment matters.
Skills England works with employers and sector bodies to ensure apprenticeship and technical qualification standards reflect current and future needs, and its Occupational Maps explain routes into maritime careers. The government fully funds apprenticeships for eligible under-25s, providing a £2,000 hiring payment for non-levy-paying employers recruiting under-25 apprentices, supporting smaller maritime businesses.
Devolution will enable strategic authorities serving coastal communities to shape skills approaches around local labour market needs. This supports the government’s wider aim of ensuring that skills and employment provision better reflects the needs of communities across England.