Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the annual budget has been for the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last three years; and how many staff that body has employed in each of the last three years.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports the following figures: | |||
Year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 |
- | £m | £m | £m |
Government Funding | 134 | 133 | 128 |
Income | 90 | 91 | 93 |
Annual Spending | 224 | 224 | 221 |
Year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 |
Staff Employed | 2,774 | 2,748 | 2,686 |
Notes:
1. Government funding is the Net Operating Cost from HSE's Annual Report and Accounts (ARA)
2. Income includes cost recovery and commercial activies
3. Annual Spending is the Total Operating Cost from HSE's ARA
4. Staff employed is the average headcount figure
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to publish the updated guidance on reassessments for personal independence payment claimants with severe or progressive conditions requiring high level support.
Answered by Sarah Newton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 October 2018 to Question UIN174062
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many DS1500 forms have been issued in each of the last five years.
Answered by Sarah Newton
This information is not collected as DWP do not issue the DS1500 report. GPs and Consultants have direct access to the blank DS1500 report and send the completed report to DWP.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make TrainingBuild for Universal Credit available to welfare advice centre staff.
Answered by Lord Sharma
While the Universal Credit Full Service training platform cannot be released to non-DWP staff for security reasons, there are a range of alternate materials available to inform our stakeholders of our processes and online systems.
As part of our engagement workshops and sessions with external partners, including welfare advice staff, we have introduced a number of materials that show elements of the online service and demonstrate how we use it to manage claims. These cover aspects such as opening accounts, making claims, use of the online journal and reclaims. These are supported by freely available online videos and publications which tell the story of the transition to Universal Credit.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the latest projected end date is for the migration from disability living allowance personal independence payment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
We continue to review the pace of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessment activity on a regular basis to make sure that we are striking an appropriate balance between inviting eligible claimants to claim PIP in a timely manner and ensuring the system is working as effectively as possible. Children in receipt of DLA when reaching age 16 will continue to be invited to claim PIP at that point.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what digital support will be available to universal credit claimants in maintaining their claim.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Currently, claimants who are in need of digital support can access this through Universal Support. Earlier this month, we announced a new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver a new approach to Universal Support, initially up to March 2020. Our new partnership will ensure that all those who need to make a claim and need extra support can access it.
Additionally, jobcentres across the country have free Wi-Fi, and there are more than 8,000 computers available to support customers who need help with making and maintaining their claim digitally.
DWP work coaches are available to assist anyone who needs help with their claim and we also have a free phone helpline available for people cannot get online. Non-digital support is also available for vulnerable claimants, who cannot use the online service, through other channels such as telephony, face to face or through home visits to ensure they can maintain their claim. Our recently published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be easy.