Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions of 27 March 2017, Official Report, column 16, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of that alternative proposed by the Work and Pensions Committee to permit a defined group of women who have been affected by state pension age changes to take early retirement, from a specified age, on an actuarially neutral basis; what the costs in that estimate of (a) means-tested benefits, (b) national insurance contributions, (c) changes to working patterns and taxation, (d) unfunded public sector pensions schemes, (e) bus passes, (f) winter fuel payments, (g) other non-means-tested benefits and (h) setting up, operating and communicating that alternative were; and what estimate his Department has made of the likely take-up of that alternative and the effect of that take-up on its estimated costs.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Department has made no estimate of the cost of permitting a defined group of women to take early retirement on an actuarially neutral basis, nor has it estimated possible take-up levels of any such scheme.
The Government Actuary submitted evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on early access to State Pension in April last year, including indicative estimates of potential costs should such a scheme be in operation. The evidence submitted by the Government Actuary can be found at the Work and Pensions Select Committee website at:
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many older people champions are employed in job centres.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We have seven older claimant champions across the jobcentre network, one operating in each of the GB regions. These were introduced in April 2015 to increase awareness among Work Coaches of the barriers faced by older claimants. The Champions work collaboratively with 34 District Leads, along with other colleagues, to raise the profile of older claimants at an operational level, highlight the benefits of employing older people and provide advice and best practice to share nationally.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the role is of older people champions in job centres.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We have seven older claimant champions across the jobcentre network, one operating in each of the GB regions. These were introduced in April 2015 to increase awareness among Work Coaches of the barriers faced by older claimants. The Champions work collaboratively with 34 District Leads, along with other colleagues, to raise the profile of older claimants at an operational level, highlight the benefits of employing older people and provide advice and best practice to share nationally.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it remains the Government's policy to publish a life chances strategy.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Barnsley Central, Dan Jarvis on 17 October [47998].
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has prepared for government departments on implementing the Family Test.
Answered by Priti Patel
In October 2014, the Department for Work and Pensions published guidance for Government officials on how the Test should be applied when formulating policy. Produced in collaboration with third sector partners from the Relationship Alliance, the guidance outlines the basis for the Family Test and provides policy officials with information on how the Test can be applied.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contingency arrangements his Department has made for the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the upcoming EU referendum.
Answered by Priti Patel
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 14 January 2016