Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
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 effect that additional travelling will have on individuals with mobility problems in the event that the Jobcentre Plus office closures in Glasgow go ahead.
Answered by Damian Hinds
We will be undertaking an equality analysis as part of the detailed planning for service reconfiguration. This will include feedback from public consultation in those locations where this applies.
The equality analysis and public consultation will help establish any impacts that additional travel will have on customers and inform decisions about additional provision, such as Outreach services. Current guidance makes alternative provision for those with mobility problems if they have a mental or physical disability, which restricts their mobility.
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Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has conducted an Equality Impact Assessment to evaluate the effect that the closure of Jobcentre Plus offices will have in Glasgow.
Answered by Damian Hinds
We will be undertaking an equality analysis as part of the detailed planning for service reconfiguration. This will include feedback from public consultation in those locations where this applies.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that adult and young carers who provide unpaid care receive the carer's allowance and other benefits they are entitled to.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Carer’s Allowance is paid to informal carers who meet the qualifying conditions, which include being over the age of 16 and providing care for at least 35 hours a week for a person with a disability who is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Over 785,000 carers in Great Britain, including around 70,000 in Scotland, currently receive Carer’s Allowance. Carer’s Allowance can be claimed online, and around three quarters of carers submit their claims this way. Since the online service was launched, nearly 700,000 claims have been made this way, with feedback from claimants showing that more than nine out of ten are satisfied with the service. Financial support for carers is also available through Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
As more employers understand the value of retaining their employees, and as flexible working becomes more widely available, it is increasingly important to allow carers to balance their caring responsibilities with paid employment. To help with this we will be publishing proposals on carers’ employment in our Fuller Working Lives Strategy in the new year; rolling out Universal Credit to ensure work pays for all people, including carers; and increasing the earnings limit in Carer’s Allowance from £110 to £116 a week from April 2017.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people providing unpaid care in securing and keeping (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Carer’s Allowance is paid to informal carers who meet the qualifying conditions, which include being over the age of 16 and providing care for at least 35 hours a week for a person with a disability who is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Over 785,000 carers in Great Britain, including around 70,000 in Scotland, currently receive Carer’s Allowance. Carer’s Allowance can be claimed online, and around three quarters of carers submit their claims this way. Since the online service was launched, nearly 700,000 claims have been made this way, with feedback from claimants showing that more than nine out of ten are satisfied with the service. Financial support for carers is also available through Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
As more employers understand the value of retaining their employees, and as flexible working becomes more widely available, it is increasingly important to allow carers to balance their caring responsibilities with paid employment. To help with this we will be publishing proposals on carers’ employment in our Fuller Working Lives Strategy in the new year; rolling out Universal Credit to ensure work pays for all people, including carers; and increasing the earnings limit in Carer’s Allowance from £110 to £116 a week from April 2017.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of the estate is in use at the Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Shettleston, (b) Easterhouse, (c) Parkhead, (d) Bridgeton, (e) Castlemilk, (f) Langside, (g) Newlands, (h) Anniesland, (i) Partick, (j) Maryhill, (k) Springburn, (l) Cambuslang and (m) Rutherglen.
Answered by Damian Hinds
Since 1998 the Department occupies the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME contract. Under the terms of this 20-year PFI, the Department contracts to occupy fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner, Telereal Trillium.
The following percentages represent the utilisation of these buildings: (a) Shettleston 22%, (b) Easterhouse 25%, (c) Parkhead 46%, (d) Bridgeton 37%, (e) Castlemilk 57%, (f) Langside 64%, (g) Newlands 62%, (h) Anniesland 30%, (i) Partick 32%, (j) Maryhill 32%, (k) Springburn 46%, (l) Cambuslang 96% and (m) Rutherglen 54%.
Even though the department does not fully occupy the space it has, it still pays for 100% of it through the PFI arrangements. Our aim is to make more efficient use of this space to reduce our estate costs going forward.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had on what dates with the landlords of the Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Shettleston, (b) Parkhead and (c) Easterhouse on the closure of Jobcentre Plus offices in Glasgow.
Answered by Damian Hinds
Since 1998 the Department has occupied the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME contract. Under the terms of this 20 year PFI, the department contracts to occupy fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner, Telereal Trillium.
The leases for the buildings in question are included within the provisions of this PFI arrangement and are therefore not held directly by the department. As such, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has had no discussions with the landlords of a) Shettleston, (b) Parkhead and (c) Easterhouse Jobcentre Plus offices.
Asked by: Natalie McGarry (Independent - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who the respective landlords are of the Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) Shettleston, (b) Parkhead and (c) Easterhouse.
Answered by Damian Hinds
Since 1998 the Department occupies the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME contract. Under the terms of this 20-year PFI, the Department contracts to occupy fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner, Telereal Trillium.
The leases for the buildings in question are included within the provisions of this PFI arrangement and are therefore not held by DWP. Therefore we are unable to supply the information you have requested.