Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
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 potential impact of the decision not to uprate Local Housing Allowance on Universal Credit claimants experiencing homelessness.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department for Work and Pensions worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the National Plan to End Homelessness which includes targeted prevention measures to support people at higher risk of homelessness. The Government’s investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services is now over £4.4 billion over the next three years and builds on the actions set out in that strategy.
The Government’s key priority is to secure an adequate number of decent, affordable homes, providing an additional £1.5 billion at Budget and taking total investment in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to more than £40 billion over ten years.
The Secretary of State reviewed Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates at Autumn Budget and confirmed in his written statement that rates will be maintained in 2027/28 at their current levels. A range of factors were considered including the current level of welfare support provided overall, other Government priorities and the fiscal context. The LHA increase in 2024 cost an additional £7 billion over 5 years.
For those who need further support to meet a shortfall in rent costs, Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payments are available from local authorities in England.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Health and Safety Executive's revised hydrogen modelling will be made available for use in the development control process.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regularly reviews and refines the models and risk assessment tools that underpin its land use planning advice. HSE is currently undertaking a programme of research to ensure its modelling approach remains robust, evidence based and fit for purpose across a range of hydrogen applications.
Primary research is continuing into the financial year of 2027/28. The outcomes of this research will inform whether updates to HSE's modelling methodologies, including those relating to hydrogen are required or if further research is required.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to ensure they have accurate modelling data for hydrogen.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is developing and validating hydrogen risk modelling tools to support the safe assessment of hydrogen storage and handling activities. This work draws on peer-reviewed scientific literature and experimental data at a range of scales, including experiments conducted using HSE’s specialist capabilities and facilities at its Science and Research Centre. The modelling approaches and outputs are subject to internal and external peer review, helping to ensure that HSE’s hydrogen risk models are based on robust and reliable evidence.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if plans exist for the continuation or replacement of the Restart Scheme ahead of its planned end in June 2026.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Government committed at Spending Review to continued employment support for the Long Term Unemployed. DWP have already announced a future employment service for out of work Universal Credit claimants in four eligible groups – long-term unemployed people, young people, lone parents and lead carers, and disadvantaged groups. The estimated go-live date will be in February 2028. Further detail can be found in the pipeline notice, published 2nd April 2026: Future Employment Support - Find a Tender and market engagement notice, published 28th April 2026: Future Employment Support - Find a Tender.
Details of any extension to the Restart Scheme contracts will be published on Contracts Finder Restart Scheme - Contracts Finder in the normal way.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness and value for money of the Restart Scheme ahead of its planned end in June 2026.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
By the end of April 2026, around 1.1 million individuals had started on the Restart Scheme. 280,000 participants have subsequently achieved a job outcome. This is against a (minimum) contractual expectation of 240,000 job outcomes. The current number of job outcomes therefore represents 118% of the minimum performance level.
The 2024 Qualitative Evaluation has indicated that the Restart Scheme has supported participants to achieve positive employment outcomes. This includes not only sustained employment, but also a range of wider benefits such as improved wellbeing, the attainment of qualifications, increased proximity to the labour market, and enhanced job-searching skills. Findings from a longitudinal cohort study suggest that participation in the scheme is associated with improved employment outcomes. Specifically, 35% of Restart Scheme participants were in work compared with 26% of a comparable group of non-participants.
A quantitative impact assessment of the Restart Scheme is underway and is due for publication later this year.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how his Department assesses the value in providing outcome payments to Restart Scheme providers in situations where participants enter employment through routes not directly facilitated by Restart providers, including through Jobcentre Plus or independent job search.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Restart Scheme is designed to provide tailored and intensive support to help people move closer to, and into, sustained employment.
The value delivered by providers is not limited to matching participants with a specific vacancy. Providers work with individuals to address barriers to work and improve their employability through activities such as careers advice, CV development, interview preparation, skills training and confidence building.
The scheme is underpinned by a robust performance framework and Customer Service Standards (CSSs), which providers are contractually required to meet. These standards ensure that participants receive the high-quality, personalised support required by DWP.
The outcome payments have been calibrated at a scheme level to account for the fact that in some cases outcomes will occur partially or fully because of factors other than the support delivered by the provider, like support provided by Jobcentre Plus or independent job search by the participant.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's joint White Paper entitled Get Britain Working, updated on 2 September 2025, when he plans to publish the evaluation of the trailblazers; and if he will set out the initial findings of the evaluation at this stage.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We expect to publish the first phase of the evaluation of the Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme in due course, which involved developing Theory of Change models and system maps to describe how Trailblazer areas intend to address the aims of the programme.
The Department commissioned a full evaluation of the Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme in January 2026. This will use a range of quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the effectiveness of the programme and is expected to be published in due course.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
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 encourage employers to provide reasonable workplace support for employees affected by migraine.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions, such as migraines, to thrive in the workforce.
This Government is committed to working collaboratively to support people who are managing health conditions. DWP and DHSC’s Joint Work and Health Directorate was set up to co-ordinate Government activity which helps those managing health conditions and disabled people to get into and thrive in work.
There are a range of initiatives that provide support. The Disability Confident Scheme encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. The scheme provides resources such as the Disability Confident Manager’s Guide, which includes guidance on flexible working and workplace adjustments.
WorkWell offers integrated work and health support for people with health-related barriers to work and is being expanded across England, backed by up to £259m, over the next three years. Participants receive person-centred, early support based on their health-related barriers to employment, and a tailored support plan that can include employer liaison and advice on workplace adjustments.
In November 2025, Sir Charlie Mayfield published the Keep Britain Working Review, setting out recommendations to reshape how Government works with employers to improve work and health outcomes through creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces. We are now working with volunteer employers, providers and regions through a Vanguard Phase to test and refine approaches to help disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions, including those affected by migraine, receive the support they need to remain and thrive in employment. These include developing effective stay in work and return to work practices, strengthening prevention, and building the evidence needed to spread good practice.
The 10 Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, builds on existing work to better integrate health with employment support and incentivise greater cross-system collaboration, recognising good work is good for health. The Plan outlines how the neighbourhood health service will join up support from across the work, health and skills systems to help address the multiple complex challenges that often stop people finding and staying in work and deliver holistic care that leads to better employment outcomes for all.
We are fully committed to ensuring adequate support in the social security system for those who – through ill health or disability – are unable to work.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on cross-government support for people whose ability to work is affected by migraine.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions, such as migraines, to thrive in the workforce.
This Government is committed to working collaboratively to support people who are managing health conditions. DWP and DHSC’s Joint Work and Health Directorate was set up to co-ordinate Government activity which helps those managing health conditions and disabled people to get into and thrive in work.
There are a range of initiatives that provide support. The Disability Confident Scheme encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. The scheme provides resources such as the Disability Confident Manager’s Guide, which includes guidance on flexible working and workplace adjustments.
WorkWell offers integrated work and health support for people with health-related barriers to work and is being expanded across England, backed by up to £259m, over the next three years. Participants receive person-centred, early support based on their health-related barriers to employment, and a tailored support plan that can include employer liaison and advice on workplace adjustments.
In November 2025, Sir Charlie Mayfield published the Keep Britain Working Review, setting out recommendations to reshape how Government works with employers to improve work and health outcomes through creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces. We are now working with volunteer employers, providers and regions through a Vanguard Phase to test and refine approaches to help disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions, including those affected by migraine, receive the support they need to remain and thrive in employment. These include developing effective stay in work and return to work practices, strengthening prevention, and building the evidence needed to spread good practice.
The 10 Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, builds on existing work to better integrate health with employment support and incentivise greater cross-system collaboration, recognising good work is good for health. The Plan outlines how the neighbourhood health service will join up support from across the work, health and skills systems to help address the multiple complex challenges that often stop people finding and staying in work and deliver holistic care that leads to better employment outcomes for all.
We are fully committed to ensuring adequate support in the social security system for those who – through ill health or disability – are unable to work.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
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 and identify Universal Credit recipients with dual or multiple exceptionalities.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department recognises that some Universal Credit (UC) claimants experience multiple or complex needs, which can make it more difficult for them to access and manage their claim or to move towards work.
To identify such claimants, DWP colleagues are trained to recognise indicators of vulnerability through claimant interactions, behaviours and information provided during the claim process. Work Coaches and specialist staff are supported by training, guidance and internal expert roles to ensure claimants with complex needs receive an appropriate and personalised service, with safeguarding considerations applied where necessary.
Any additional support needs are recorded on the UC system to ensure they are consistently recognised and acted upon.
Where multiple needs are identified, tailored support is put in place according to individual circumstances. This can include:
In addition, wider support is available through services such as Help to Claim and through adjustments to UC processes to ensure that those with health conditions or disabilities receive the financial support and work‑related requirements appropriate to their capability.
The Department continues to review and strengthen its approach to identifying and supporting vulnerable claimants, including those with multiple needs, to ensure they can access UC and receive the support to which they are entitled.