Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Currently, the electric vehicles available for use in the department are leased. The department has not purchased any electric vehicles in the period since July 2024.
From 4 July 2024 to date, DWP has spent £263,176.93 to install electric vehicle chargers. By comparison, £2,001,388.61 was spent in the year 2023-24
No assessment has been made of the difference between the capital costs of electric vehicles and of petrol and diesel vehicles.
We do not hold the Arms Length Bodies information being asked for.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships on levels of workforce (a) up-skilling and (b) productivity in (i) all sectors and (ii) the transport and aviation sectors; and how much and what proportion of the Growth and Skills Levy collected in the 2024-25 financial year has not been spent.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government's decision on defunding Level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 22 and over, including a summary of the evidence that informed that decision, is published here: Written Statements - Hansard - UK Parliament.
All UK employers with an annual pay bill above £3 million pay 0.5 per cent of their pay bill to invest in apprenticeship training. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for collecting the levy on behalf of the government.
The Department for Education is responsible for apprenticeships in England only. The department receives an annual protected apprenticeships budget which is agreed at Spending Reviews. Although closely linked, this is distinct from the total levy income collected and the funds in employer accounts.
In total, this apprenticeship budget covers the spend drawn down by all levy-paying employers, as well as apprenticeships for those who do not pay the levy, the costs of English and maths tuition for apprentices, and additional payments to employers, training providers and apprentices. It also covers the administrative costs of running the apprenticeships programme.
100% of the apprenticeships budget was spent in the 2024-25 financial year. The final outturn was £2,769m, in line with the budget.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what trials his Department is undertaking relating to the frequency of (a) appointments, (b) interventions and (c) workcoach support provided to (i) young people and (ii) people with neurodivergent conditions.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As referenced in the Get Britain Working White Paper the Universal Credit Conditionality Evidence (UCCE) Project is currently running two large, randomised control trials testing the impact of varying the frequency of interventions, and the channel for providing support in Universal Credit; a full process evaluation and impact assessments will be published once complete.
The Department is committed to refreshing our evidence base and recently published its Evidence and Evaluation Strategy 2025. Goal 1 (enable people to get into work and to get on at work, ensuring employment opportunity for all) outlines how research and evaluation will inform our Labour Market reforms.
The department currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners.
Our plan to Get Britain Working includes a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. This includes targeted support for young people who are NEET (not in education employment or training) or at risk of becoming NEET.
Outside of DWP provision, our new voluntary, locally-commissioned, Supported Employment programme, Connect to Work, is for anyone who is disabled, has a health condition or is experiencing non-health related barriers to work. Participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Participants are supported to have conversations with prospective employers, removing the need to go through complex application processes. The employment adviser works with both the employer and the participant to ensure that the transition into work is smooth and that the workplace is inclusive.
The programme is being led by local authorities across all of England and Wales and is rolling out throughout this year and early 2026. Local Authorities are required to offer Connect to Work through two models of Supported Employment – Individual Placement and Support and Supported Employment Quality Framework. The latter framework has been specifically designed, and has a proven track record, to support individuals with learning disabilities or who are neurodivergent to get into sustainable employment.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that more customers can access pension pot consolidation more quickly.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to the consolidation of small workplace pension pots, when in the best interests of savers. The Pension Schemes Bill 2025 was introduced into Parliament on the 5 June. This includes measures to address the growing issue of deferred small pots, which normally arises when individuals change jobs and accumulate multiple pots over their working lives.
This will ensure workplace pension pots, initially worth £1,000 or less are automatically consolidated, unless members choose to opt-out. This will address the 13m stock of deferred small pots, and any future small pots that are created. As announced in our recent publication, ‘Workplace pensions: a Roadmap’ The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workplace-pensions-a-roadmap/workplace-pensions-a-roadmap#roadmap.
However, savers do not need to wait for legislation to benefit from consolidation. Currently, individuals can transfer and consolidate their pension pots themselves through a member-initiated transfer.
This will also soon be aided by the introduction of pensions dashboards. Once launched, pensions dashboards will allow people to find and view their pensions, including State Pension, securely and in one place online. This will help people to reconnect with each of their pension pots and better plan for retirement.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to reform the complaints process to allow the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to intervene earlier in cases of excessive delay by her Department.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP’s online complaints portal provides an automatic acknowledgement on receipt of all complaints, however, does not generate a complaint reference number at this stage. This is because the department handles all complaints initially through its early resolution process. All complaints go to the appropriate business area to attempt early resolution for the customer. The department only generates a complaints reference number, when we have been unable to resolve a complaint through our early resolution process and it is escalated to DWP’s Complaint teams. There should be no reason why the online complaint portal would not provide an acknowledgement on submission, as it is automatically set up to do so.
There are no plans to reform the department’s complaints processes to enable the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to intervene earlier in cases that have experienced delays. The department informs the customer if there is likely to be a delay within the complaints process. If a customer is dissatisfied with DWP’s final complaints response they can escalate their complaint to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) who is the first point in the department’s escalation process.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department’s online complaints process does not provide an acknowledgment or reference number upon submission.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP’s online complaints portal provides an automatic acknowledgement on receipt of all complaints, however, does not generate a complaint reference number at this stage. This is because the department handles all complaints initially through its early resolution process. All complaints go to the appropriate business area to attempt early resolution for the customer. The department only generates a complaints reference number, when we have been unable to resolve a complaint through our early resolution process and it is escalated to DWP’s Complaint teams. There should be no reason why the online complaint portal would not provide an acknowledgement on submission, as it is automatically set up to do so.
There are no plans to reform the department’s complaints processes to enable the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to intervene earlier in cases that have experienced delays. The department informs the customer if there is likely to be a delay within the complaints process. If a customer is dissatisfied with DWP’s final complaints response they can escalate their complaint to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) who is the first point in the department’s escalation process.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that complaints submitted online are not prematurely disregarded due to a lack of submission evidence.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Once a customer has submitted an online complaint, they will be contacted by the department regarding the issues raised, at which time the customer can offer evidence to support their complaint; therefore, no additional steps have been taken in this area.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people aged (a) between 16 and 24 and (b) over 16 are unemployed in Basildon and Billericay constituency; and how many and what proportion were unemployed in June 2024.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The latest information requested is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp
Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many permanent civil servants in her Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are 11 permanent civil servants in The Department for Work and Pensions without assigned posts as of 15/05/2025.
These are all held on a priority movers list to enable matching against suitable roles and are also on the redeployment register which is shared with Other Government Departments to seek redeployment.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29025 on Department for Work and Pensions: Political Impartiality, what her Department's timetable is for the conclusion of the local investigation into political campaigning during the Rochdale by-election in 2024.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The DWP will not comment further on matters pertaining to individual members of staff.