Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on developing proposals for implementing the Youth Obligation; and what organisations his Department are consulting to inform that process.
Answered by Priti Patel
The detailed policy design is still under development. We will set out our policy design for the Youth Obligation in due course.
We will be conducting a stakeholder engagement exercise with organisations and employers shortly.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department's policies and (b) winter fuel allowance since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Advisory Forum on Ageing closed on 2nd December 2015. Since then the Department has continued to work with older people, employers, the financial services industry and other stakeholders on issues such as simplifying automatic enrolment into workplace pensions, the introduction of the new State Pension, and fuller working lives. For example, the Department has conducted structured research into the attitudes of people over 50 to fuller working lives, the new State Pension, and Class 3A Voluntary National Insurance Contributions. The Department is also working with the Money Matters Working Group of the Age Action Alliance on increasing take-up of benefits by older people, and especially take-up of Pension Credit.
With specific regard to the Winter Fuel Payment, the Government has committed to help provide dignity and security in retirement by protecting it and other pensioner benefits, such as free bus passes, for the lifetime of this Parliament. Where issues arise linked to older people and fuel poverty, both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Energy and Climate Change are active members of the Safe, Warm Homes Working Group of the Age Action Alliance, which is a valuable forum for both developing both policy and innovative ways of delivering support and advice to older people.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his oral contribution of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 52, on state pensions for women, what meetings he has had on the transitional arrangements referred to (a) between 20 June 2011 and 7 May 2015 and (b) since 8 May 2015.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers discussed and considered transitional arrangements during the passage on the Pensions Bill 2011.
The Government carried out extensive analysis of the impacts of bringing forward the rise to age 66 when legislating for the change in State Pension age. A final Impact Assessment was published in November 2011 following Royal Assent the Pensions Act 2011.
The Impact Assessment includes analysis of the decision to amend the timetable originally set out in the bill so as to cap the maximum increase at 18 months rather than 2 years. This concession benefited almost a quarter of a million women, who would otherwise have experienced delays of up to two years. A similar number of men also benefited from a reduced increase, and the concession was worth around £1 billion in total.
The Government will not be revisiting the State Pension age arrangements for women affected by the 2011 Act.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his oral contribution of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 52, on state pensions for women, whether he plans to make an announcement of transitional provisions prior to the introduction of the single-tier state pension.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers discussed and considered transitional arrangements during the passage on the Pensions Bill 2011.
The Government carried out extensive analysis of the impacts of bringing forward the rise to age 66 when legislating for the change in State Pension age. A final Impact Assessment was published in November 2011 following Royal Assent the Pensions Act 2011.
The Impact Assessment includes analysis of the decision to amend the timetable originally set out in the bill so as to cap the maximum increase at 18 months rather than 2 years. This concession benefited almost a quarter of a million women, who would otherwise have experienced delays of up to two years. A similar number of men also benefited from a reduced increase, and the concession was worth around £1 billion in total.
The Government will not be revisiting the State Pension age arrangements for women affected by the 2011 Act.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants with (a) Parkinson's disease, (b) rheumatoid arthritis, (c) motor neurone disease, (d) multiple sclerosis and (e) cystic fibrosis have been (i) placed in the support group, (ii) placed in the work-related activity group and (iii) found fit for work since 2008; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Priti Patel
Outcomes of initial and repeat Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessments and Incapacity Benefits Reassessments (IBR) by disease code: October 2008 – September 2014
|
| Cystic Fibrosis | Spinal Muscular Atrophy | Parkinson’s Disease | Multiple Sclerosis | Other Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Initial claim | SG | 800 | 1,100 | 1,500 | 6,900 | 3,000 |
WRAG | 100 | 100 | 700 | 2,600 | 3,400 | |
FFW | 100 | - | 500 | 1,700 | 3,800 | |
Repeat claim | SG | 500 | 200 | 1,100 | 7,000 | 4,300 |
WRAG | 100 | - | 500 | 2,200 | 3,900 | |
FFW | - | - | 100 | 300 | 1,100 | |
IBR claim | SG | 600 | 200 | 1,200 | 15,000 | 5,800 |
WRAG | 100 | - | 300 | 2,600 | 5,000 | |
FFW | - | - | - | 300 | 1,100 |
Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“denotes nil or under 50.
2. SG – Support Group
WRAG – Work Related Activity Group
FFW – Fit For Work
3. The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Atos Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available.
4. Motor neurone disease is shown in the table as 'Spinal muscular atrophy'.
5. The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions. In October 2008, ESA replaced IB for new claims. Starting with a trial in October 2010, and reaching a full scale national roll-out in April 2011, existing IB claims began to be phased out, with claimants reassessed to see if they qualify for ESA instead.
6. The reassessment of existing incapacity benefits claimants was rolled out nationally from April 2011.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people liable to the under-occupancy penalty (a) found alternative accommodation and (b) paid the penalty.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested for those subject to the removal of the spare room subsidy for part a) is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The information requested for part (b) is not held.
However, an analysis of changes to the number of people subject to a reduction in their Housing Benefit award, including those who have downsized, from May to December 2013 was published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/removal-of-the-spare-room-subsidy-analysis-july-2014
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of payment of (a) out-of-work and (b) in-work benefits to people in Torfaen constituency in financial year 2014-15.
Answered by Priti Patel
Information on benefit expenditure for 2014/15 at a Parliamentary Constituency level is not currently available. 2014/15 data is planned for publication in September. Data for 2000/01 to 2013/14 is available via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Government's projected £12 billion reduction in welfare expenditure that will take place in Torfaen constituency.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s commitment to reduce welfare spending was set out in its election manifesto. Further details will be given in due course.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse arising from the under-occupancy penalty in Torfaen constituency in financial year 2014-15.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested for those subject to the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy in Torfaen, is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support benefit claimants in managing their money on a (a) monthly and (b) fortnightly basis.
Answered by Priti Patel
Jobcentres often provide budgeting support and can also signpost people to locally available support services. Within Universal Credit, the Personal Budgeting Support process provides a conversation with all claimants at their initial Interview to gauge their potential support needs – this could include money advice with a mix of online, telephone and face to face support. Alternative Payment Arrangements can be made for the minority of claimants that may struggle to manage monthly payments initially.