Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Ilford North constituency.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
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 overall impact of the (a) Autumn Budget and (b) Spending Review 2021 on levels of child poverty.
Answered by David Rutley
While the government has not made an assessment of the SR 2021 or Autumn Budget directly on child poverty, it has made an assessment of the distributional impact of these decisions on UK households. This can be found here:
This shows that households in the poorest income deciles will, on average, gain the most as a percentage of net income in 2024-25 from decisions announced since the Spending Review in 2019.
National Statistics on the number and percentage of children in low income are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication.
Latest statistics for the number of children who are in low income, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2020 in children-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2019-20-tables.
In 2019/20, the latest year for which data is available 100,000 fewer children were living in absolute low income, before housing costs, than in 2009/10.
This Government is committed to supporting those on low incomes, including by spending over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22. We know that children living in workless households are around six times more likely to be in absolute low income (before housing costs) than those where all adults work, which is why our comprehensive Plan for Jobs is helping people to boost their skills in order to gain employment or increase their hours.
We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with the cost of essentials. In England at least 50% of the £421m Household Support Fund will be used to support families with children. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the rate of inflation as of 21 October 2021 on child poverty.
Answered by David Rutley
No such assessments have been made of the effect of the rate of inflation as of 21 October 2021 on child poverty.
However, DWP Secretary of State completes an annual review of most benefit rates for people below State Pension age to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to inflation. Where prices have increased relative to the value of those benefits, the Secretary of State will increase certain disability and carers’ benefits – such as Personal Independence Payments and Carer’s Allowance – at least in line with that increase. She may also decide to increase other benefits, such as the Universal Credit Standard Allowance. That decision is discretionary. The up-rating review is conducted in the Autumn of each year, with the outcome announced in November and the new rates implemented the following April.
We understand that with inflation rising, some people will be concerned about the cost of living. That is why this government is continuing to take action to support living standards by increasing the National Living Wage to £9.50 effective from April 1st 2022.
We have also announced a reduction in the taper rate in Universal Credit from 63% to 55% in the coming weeks, meaning Universal Credit claimants will be able to keep more of their earnings and announced that all work allowances will be increased by £500 per year, meaning many claimants will be able to earn over £550 each month before their benefits begin to be scaled down. These two measures mean 1.9m households will keep, on average, around an extra £1,000 a year.
Children living in workless households were around 5 times more likely to be in absolute poverty in 2019/20 than those where all adults work (before housing costs). That is why, through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into, and progress in work. Following the Chancellor’s extension and expansion announcement last month our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million people.
In April this year we also increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25, helping eligible low-income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins. We are also investing up to £221m in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has been expanded to every Local Authority across England. Participating children are benefitting from a range of support, including healthy and nutritious meals as well as fun and engaging activities covering the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021.
However, we recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to facilitate the participation of hon. Members in the Kickstart scheme.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
Officials have held discussions with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and other government departments in relation to Kickstart jobs being made available in government and Parliamentary offices.
We welcome applications from any interested employer, and encourage MPs to speak with their local Job Centre Plus and to read the advice and guidance on the Kickstart gov.uk pages.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people are unemployed in (a) Ilford North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Redbridge as at 9 March 2021.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
The 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: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people have participated in the Kickstart scheme in (a) Ilford North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Redbridge.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given for PQ157063. We are currently unable to publish data below the regional level.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for people in the sectors worst affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
I am working with colleagues across Government to ensure those in sectors most vulnerable to COVID-19 can access support to pivot into sectors where jobs are available.
DWP is doubling the number of Work Coaches in Jobcentres and stands ready to provide support to Universal Credit claimants to help them move back into work, including those sectors most vulnerable to COVID-19.
DWP has designed two websites that were launched in April, Jobhelp and Employer Help, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognising both a radically different labour market as some sectors contract and others expand. Jobhelp offers job search advice, showcases recruiting sectors and signposts to job vacancies to help people successfully find work.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make British Sign Language interpretation available at televised briefings on covid-19 at the earliest opportunity.
Answered by Boris Johnson
Following discussions with the BBC, they have confirmed they will provide a sign language service during official statements for the foreseeable future.