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 support the Government’s Open Data Agenda; and whether she plans to expand secure access to selected datasets for the purposes of reducing financial exclusion.

DWP promotes a culture of encouraging data sharing for public good whilst ensuring this is done in a secure, legal and ethical way. DWP requires both a lawful basis and legal power to share personal data. DWP already has over 1,300 live data shares with other government departments, agencies & public bodies. DWP also shares data with private companies where there is a need in support of the department’s priorities, for example, data sharing with utility companies to support reduced rates for DWP customers. These shares support operations, fraud & error, debt recovery, research & analysis and national statistics. Demand for DWP data is high, often because eligibility for a third party’s service is dependent on a citizen’s DWP benefit circumstances, for example, Warm Home Discount Scheme.