Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to maintain the triple lock on state pensions after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people.
The Government's immediate focus must be on supporting people and businesses through this difficult period. That is why we announced an extension to the furlough scheme, which has already saved millions of jobs.
Given the unprecedented economic context and the challenges facing the UK economy, we will take stock of the economy and public finances as we exit the current crisis and make the right decisions at that point.
It is premature to speculate about future public finances, budgets and the economy. We are thinking first and foremost about protecting people's health, their jobs and supporting businesses. The Office of Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England have said if we did not do what we are doing today the costs in the future would be far higher.
As with all aspects of Government policy, we will keep tax rates and spending under review, and any decisions on future changes will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of effect of stock market fluctuations due to the covid-19 outbreak on the value of occupational pensions.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government continues to consider appropriate actions that it can take to protect both the public and the economy from the impacts of COVID-19. We have already introduced a range of measures to support businesses and individuals, ensure financial stability and reinforce social safety nets.
We recognise the pressure on pension investments during these challenging times. However, investments are for the long term and the government does not believe that interventions beyond the easements set out in guidance from the Pensions Regulator would be necessary or proportionate at this time.
On 1 April the Financial Conduct Authority, the Pensions Regulator and the Money and Pensions Service published a joint statement urging savers to take their time when making financial decisions, and to visit the Pension Advisory Service website for free pensions guidance before making any decisions about their retirement savings. https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/
The value of occupational defined benefit pensions is tracked monthly via the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) 7800 index. The most recent publication provides an assessment of the funding position of occupational defined benefit pension schemes, comprising both their assets and liabilities, as at 30 April 2020.
In addition, the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Financial Survey of Pension Schemes will provide information on the assets and liabilities of occupational pension schemes covering both defined benefit and defined contribution schemes. This is a quarterly survey with the first publication due in 2020.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the household income of pensioners.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is insufficient data to estimate the precise economic impact on different groups.
The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people.
Since 2010, the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension in 2020/21 is around £700 higher than if it had just been up-rated by earnings since April 2010. That’s a rise of over £1,900 in cash terms.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 11 of the Government's response to the Work and Pensions Committee's Nineteenth Report of Session 2017–19, HC 955, what progress her Department has made on undertaking that evaluation; and whether that evaluation will assess the effectiveness of (a) conditionality and (b) sanctions for lone parents.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department will look to publish its evaluation in Spring 2020. The evaluation will assess the impact of Universal Credit sanctions on supporting claimants into work. The impact on lone parents will be assessed. The evaluation will not assess the effectiveness of conditionality.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents with a child aged (a) three and (b) four have transferred to universal credit and become job seekers have (i) moved into work; and (ii) taken up the concession to improve their skills and train for up to a year since 1 April 2017.
Answered by Will Quince
The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing secondary legislation to include people aged under 25 in the shared accommodation rate exemption for homeless people.
Answered by Will Quince
There is an exemption from the shared accommodation rate for those aged 25-34 who have previously spent 3 months, which doesn’t have to be continuous , in a homeless hostel/hostels specialising in rehabilitation and resettlement. There are no current plans to make legislative changes to extend this exemption to those under the age of 25 but as with all our policies, this will continue to be kept under review.
For individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of supplementing the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme with a centrally allocated fund.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. Local authorities are best placed to decide how to promote and target flexible help to support local welfare needs. The Government has no further plans to review provision.
The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2015-16 identifies a notional amount relating to local welfare provision in each upper-tier and unitary authority’s general grant, totalling £129.6 million for England. The notional allocation for local welfare provision remains at £129.6 million in England in the Local Government Financial Settlement until 2019/20. There are no plans to ring-fence this notional allocation.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of uprating local housing allowance rates from April 2020; and if she plans to bring forward proposals to extend the current exemption from the shared accommodation rate for people who have lived in a homeless hostel to include people aged 18 to 25 years-old.
Answered by Will Quince
There are no current plans to extend or maintain the Benefit Freeze after March 2020. Specific decisions on how to uprate the Local Housing Allowance rates from April 2020 will form part of the discussions in support of fiscal events later this year.
There is an exemption from the shared accommodation rate for those aged 25-34 who have previously spent 3 months (which doesn’t have to be continuous) in a homeless hostel/hostels specialising in rehabilitation and resettlement. There are no plans to extend this exemption to those under the age of 25.
For other individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of uprating Local Housing Allowance rates from April 2020; and if she will bring forward proposals to extend the exemption from the shared accommodation rate for people who have lived in a homeless hostel to include people aged 18 to 25.
Answered by Will Quince
There are no current plans to extend or maintain the Benefit Freeze after March 2020. Specific decisions on how to uprate the Local Housing Allowance rates from April 2020 will form part of the discussions in support of fiscal events later this year.
There is an exemption from the shared accommodation rate for those aged 25-34 who have previously spent 3 months (which doesn’t have to be continuous) in a homeless hostel/hostels specialising in rehabilitation and resettlement. There are no plans to extend this exemption to those under the age of 25.
For other individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
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 offer additional support and guidance to hon. Members and their staff while their constituencies transition to universal credit.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
We continue to invite Hon. Members to visit jobcentres within their constituencies and we write to all Hon. Members before jobcentres in their constituencies roll out to Universal Credit Full Service.
As well as providing the name and contact details of the Senior Operational Leader in their area, who is available to answer any questions about the service in their Jobcentre(s), these letters provide a series of guides and online links that their offices may find helpful in assisting constituents.
Additionally, we have also run information sessions on Universal Credit for both Hon. Members and Peers, which provided the opportunity to speak with Ministers and Senior Officials within the Department.