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Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Mental Health
Monday 25th July 2022

Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)

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 on benefits who have received mental health support in each year since 2010.

Answered by Chloe Smith

No specific assessment has been made on the impact on the mental health of people receiving benefits of the recent increase in the cost of living. The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living: that is why it is providing over £37 billion of support this year. This includes the £650 Cost of Living Payment which is designed to target support at low-income households on means-tested benefits. In addition, 6 million eligible disabled people will receive a one-off, disability Cost of Living Payment of £150. And pensioner households will receive a separate one-off payment of £300 (through and as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment).

People that are receiving benefits can access mental health support in a number of ways such as seeking a referral from GP in the first instance. In addition, all NHS mental health providers have established 24/7 all-age urgent mental health helplines for people in crisis or for those worried about someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Details of these helplines are available on the NHS website at: Where to get urgent help for mental health - NHS (www.nhs.uk). Administrative data on mental health support and benefit receipt are not routinely linked so we cannot estimate the number of people on benefits who receive mental health support.

Evidence suggests that good, appropriate paid work can be beneficial for individuals' health and wellbeing. We offer specialist support for people with mental health conditions to stay in and return to work, often working jointly with the health system, through:

  • our Employment Advice in Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (EAs in IAPT) services. Since 2017 we have invested a total of £82million on expanding the number of EAs in IAPT services and we have committed to expand the service across England. Evidence on EAs in IAPT found that those receiving employment support in addition to mental health support showed greater improvements to their mental health compared to those receiving mental health support alone. In addition, those out of work on entry to the EAs in IAPT service were more likely to be active in the labour market (through employment or looking for employment) at the end of their treatment than those receiving mental health support alone. Employment Advisers (EAs) work with JCP colleagues to ensure that JCP clients who could benefit from IAPT treatment are signposted to receive an IAPT assessment.
  • the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service
  • the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot across the Midlands Engine region, which seeks out opportunities to improve productivity through improving employee's mental health.
  • our trials of Individual Placement and Support for people with common mental health and/or physical health conditions.

We will also work closely with DHSC and other government departments in supporting the new cross government 10-year plan for mental health and wellbeing for England.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Mental Health
Monday 25th July 2022

Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what resources her Department has allocated to improving the mental health of people receiving benefits.

Answered by Chloe Smith

No specific assessment has been made on the impact on the mental health of people receiving benefits of the recent increase in the cost of living. The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living: that is why it is providing over £37 billion of support this year. This includes the £650 Cost of Living Payment which is designed to target support at low-income households on means-tested benefits. In addition, 6 million eligible disabled people will receive a one-off, disability Cost of Living Payment of £150. And pensioner households will receive a separate one-off payment of £300 (through and as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment).

People that are receiving benefits can access mental health support in a number of ways such as seeking a referral from GP in the first instance. In addition, all NHS mental health providers have established 24/7 all-age urgent mental health helplines for people in crisis or for those worried about someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Details of these helplines are available on the NHS website at: Where to get urgent help for mental health - NHS (www.nhs.uk). Administrative data on mental health support and benefit receipt are not routinely linked so we cannot estimate the number of people on benefits who receive mental health support.

Evidence suggests that good, appropriate paid work can be beneficial for individuals' health and wellbeing. We offer specialist support for people with mental health conditions to stay in and return to work, often working jointly with the health system, through:

  • our Employment Advice in Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (EAs in IAPT) services. Since 2017 we have invested a total of £82million on expanding the number of EAs in IAPT services and we have committed to expand the service across England. Evidence on EAs in IAPT found that those receiving employment support in addition to mental health support showed greater improvements to their mental health compared to those receiving mental health support alone. In addition, those out of work on entry to the EAs in IAPT service were more likely to be active in the labour market (through employment or looking for employment) at the end of their treatment than those receiving mental health support alone. Employment Advisers (EAs) work with JCP colleagues to ensure that JCP clients who could benefit from IAPT treatment are signposted to receive an IAPT assessment.
  • the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service
  • the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot across the Midlands Engine region, which seeks out opportunities to improve productivity through improving employee's mental health.
  • our trials of Individual Placement and Support for people with common mental health and/or physical health conditions.

We will also work closely with DHSC and other government departments in supporting the new cross government 10-year plan for mental health and wellbeing for England.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Mental Health
Monday 25th July 2022

Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)

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 impact on the mental health of people receiving benefits of the recent increase in the cost of living.

Answered by Chloe Smith

No specific assessment has been made on the impact on the mental health of people receiving benefits of the recent increase in the cost of living. The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living: that is why it is providing over £37 billion of support this year. This includes the £650 Cost of Living Payment which is designed to target support at low-income households on means-tested benefits. In addition, 6 million eligible disabled people will receive a one-off, disability Cost of Living Payment of £150. And pensioner households will receive a separate one-off payment of £300 (through and as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment).

People that are receiving benefits can access mental health support in a number of ways such as seeking a referral from GP in the first instance. In addition, all NHS mental health providers have established 24/7 all-age urgent mental health helplines for people in crisis or for those worried about someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Details of these helplines are available on the NHS website at: Where to get urgent help for mental health - NHS (www.nhs.uk). Administrative data on mental health support and benefit receipt are not routinely linked so we cannot estimate the number of people on benefits who receive mental health support.

Evidence suggests that good, appropriate paid work can be beneficial for individuals' health and wellbeing. We offer specialist support for people with mental health conditions to stay in and return to work, often working jointly with the health system, through:

  • our Employment Advice in Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (EAs in IAPT) services. Since 2017 we have invested a total of £82million on expanding the number of EAs in IAPT services and we have committed to expand the service across England. Evidence on EAs in IAPT found that those receiving employment support in addition to mental health support showed greater improvements to their mental health compared to those receiving mental health support alone. In addition, those out of work on entry to the EAs in IAPT service were more likely to be active in the labour market (through employment or looking for employment) at the end of their treatment than those receiving mental health support alone. Employment Advisers (EAs) work with JCP colleagues to ensure that JCP clients who could benefit from IAPT treatment are signposted to receive an IAPT assessment.
  • the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service
  • the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot across the Midlands Engine region, which seeks out opportunities to improve productivity through improving employee's mental health.
  • our trials of Individual Placement and Support for people with common mental health and/or physical health conditions.

We will also work closely with DHSC and other government departments in supporting the new cross government 10-year plan for mental health and wellbeing for England.


Written Question
Department of Health and Social Care: Public Expenditure
Tuesday 19th April 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will (a) list the spending programmes his Department devolves for administration to local government in England and other local spending bodies and (b) specify the value for each programme for every year for which budgets are agreed.

Answered by Edward Argar

The following table shows spending on programmes issued to local government in England by the Department in 2020/21 in the form of grants under the Local Government Act 2003.

Local authority funding by scheme

2020/21 actual expenditure £ ’000s

Infection Control

1,146,000

Workforce Capacity Fund

120,000

Out of Hours Hospital Care Model for People experiencing Homelessness

2,549

West Midlands Engine

2,300

Learning Disabilities and Autism Community Discharge

20,000

PrEP - HIV drug treatment

11,222

LASSL - local reform and community voices grant, social care in prisons grant and war pensions schemes disregard grant

57,360

Contain Outbreak Management Fund

1,717,092

Test and Trace Business Support to Local authorities

3,000

Test and Trace Isolation Support Payments

144,743

Local Authority Practical Support (for those self-isolating)

12,900

Project Eagle - surge testing support

3,094

Rapid Testing

149,119

Community Testing

126,615

Expenditure data for 2021/22 is not yet available. Spending plans for 2022/23 and beyond are currently being finalised.

This information refers to core Departmental expenditure and does not include spending devolved to local authorities by Departmental arm’s length bodies or spending devolved to local National Health Service bodies via NHS England. The Local Authority Public Health Grant is recorded separately as in 2020/21, this was paid to upper-tier local authorities by the former Public Health England (PHE). The value of the Grant paid to local authorities by PHE in 2020/21 was £3.279 billion. With effect from 1 October 2021, the Department has assumed responsibility for this Grant.


Written Question
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Public Expenditure
Wednesday 30th March 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will (a) list the spending programmes his Department devolves for administration to local government in England and other local spending bodies and (b) specify the value for each programme for every year for which budgets are agreed.

Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition

The table below sets out funding DLUHC core department devolved in 2021-22. Future years funding will be published in the usual way. The Local Government Finance Settlement can be found using this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2021-to-2022.

Programme Name

Value 2021-22 (£m)

AFFORDABLE HOMES PROGRAMME

215.0

BETTER CARE FUND PROGRAMME SUPPORT

0.3

BICHESTER

4.6

BRENT CROSS

29.1

BROWNFIELD HOUSING FUND

157.8

BROWNFIELD LAND RELEASE FUND

64.4

BUILDING SAFETY REMEDIATION

393.0

CHANGING FUTURES

16.0

CHANGING PLACES

0.3

COASTAL COMMUNITIES FUND

0.1

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

22.5

COMMUNITY HOUSING FUND

6.0

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP FUND - COF

1.4

COVID-19 CLINICALLY & EXTREMELY VULNERABLE

61.3

CUSTOM BUILD LAND DUTY

0.1

DATA IMPROVEMENT SHARE OUTCOME FUND

4.1

DIGITAL PLANNING REFORM

1.9

DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS (N)

573.0

DOMESTIC ABUSE

1.8

EAST BANK

51.6

EBBSFLEET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

19.0

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

5.2

ESTATE REGEN FUND

14.2

FAITH, RACE AND HATE GRANT SCHEME

0.4

FLOOD RECOVERY FRAMEWORK SCHEMES

3.7

FREEPORTS

3.7

FUTURE HIGH STREET FUND

257.5

GETTING BUILDING FUND

449.9

GRT EDUCATION PROGRAMME

1.0

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL PROGRAMME

1.0

HOME OF 2030

0.4

HOMELESSNESS

378.8

HONG KONG BRITISH NATIONAL OVERSEAS (HKBNOS) WELCOME PROGRAMME

6.5

HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (CORE)

37.9

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES

17.7

INTERFAITH NETWORK FOR THE UK

0.3

LEP CORE FUNDING

19.1

LESSONS FROM AUSCHWITZ UNIVERSITIES

0.1

LEVELLING UP FUND

103.2

LOCAL DIGITAL COLLABORATION

12.4

LOCAL GROWTH INVESTMENT FUNDS

347.5

LOCAL LAND CHARGES

0.1

LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUMS (LRFS)

8.1

MAYORAL CAPACITY FUND

9.0

MIDLANDS ENGINE

2.5

MODERN PLANNING SOFTWARE

6.8

NCTT

0.3

NEAR NEIGHBOURS

1.0

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING

7.9

NEW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS

2.1

NEW HOMES BONUS

622.3

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE

0.5

OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE ARC

1.0

OXFORDSHIRE HOUSING

40.0

PARTNERSHIPS FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE

0.7

PFI HOUSING

138.7

PLANNING ADVISORY SERVICE (PAS)

0.7

PLANNING DELIVERY FUND

5.3

PLANNING REFORM

2.8

REDCAR AND CLEVELAND BOROUGH COUNCIL

3.7

REGIONAL CONTROL CENTRES

4.2

REMEMBERING SREBRENICA

0.3

REOPENING HIGH STREETS SAFELY

26.8

RIGHT TO BUY RECEIPTS

12.3

ROUGH SLEEPING

325.4

ROUGH SLEEPING COVID RESPONSE

40.3

SCHOOLS LINKING

0.2

SECRETARIAT FOR THE INDEPENDENT ANTISEMITISM ADVISER

0.1

SHIELDING SUPPORT

40.8

SSI STEELWORKS

25.7

STDC - TEESWORKS WORKS

11.1

STRENGTHENING FAITH INSTITUTIONS

0.5

STRONGER TOWNS CAPACITY FUNDING

162.4

SUPPORTED HOUSING OVERSIGHT PILOTS

2.4

SUPPORTING FAMILIES

163.7

TENANT FEES ACT 2019

0.8

THAMES ESTUARY

1.5

TOWNS FUND

0.5

TRANSPORT FOR EBBSFLEET

1.7

UK COMMUNITY RENEWAL FUND

122.5

VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR FUNDING FOR ROUGH SLEEPING AND HOMELESSNESS

2.7

VOLUNTARY RIGHT TO BUY

1.4

WAKING WATCH

0.4

WESTERN GATEWAY CORE FUNDING

1.0

WINDRUSH

0.7

WOMENS AID

0.3

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

0.6


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Public Expenditure
Thursday 10th March 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will (a) list the spending programmes her Department devolves for administration to local government in England and other local spending bodies and (b) specify the value for each programme for every year for which budgets are agreed.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt

While the Department for International Trade (DIT) work with delivery partners to provide support to the English regions in the forms of grants, the funding for such grants are not devolved, except for the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine Key Account Management (KAM) programmes. The amounts allocated for the 21/22 financial year are £1m and £0.5m respectively.


Written Question
Railways: Birmingham
Friday 5th November 2021

Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to include the Birmingham Airport Connectivity scheme in the upcoming Integrated Rail Plan.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson

The Department will soon publish its Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) which will look at how best to deliver major rail investments in the North and Midlands, so that the benefits of these investments are delivered to passengers and communities more quickly. The Birmingham Airport Connectivity project is part of the Midlands Engine Rail proposals and it will be appropriate to consider the case for this scheme when the Integrated Rail Plan concludes.


Written Question
Trade Promotion
Thursday 22nd July 2021

Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings (a) he has and (b) other Ministers of his Department have attended with international trade advisers in the (i) Northern Powerhouse, (ii) Midlands Engine, (iii) South and (iv) London regions; and which Ministers were in attendance at each of those meetings.

Answered by Graham Stuart

According to Department for International Trade records, the Secretary of State did not attend any meetings with international trade advisers since February 2020.

Other ministers have attended twenty-seven meetings with international trade advisers since February 2020. Ten meetings took place in the Northern Powerhouse region, one in the Midlands Engine, fifteen in the South, and one in London.

Minister Stuart attended six meetings in the Northern Powerhouse, eleven in the South, one in the Midlands Engine, and one in London.

Minister Jayawardena attended four meetings in the Northern Powerhouse, and four meetings in the South.


Written Question
East Coast Main Line
Tuesday 13th April 2021

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of re-purposing the eastern arm of the East Coast Main Line, such as for direct travel from Bristol to east of the Pennines, after the opening of HS2.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson

The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands is considering how best to deliver schemes such as HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine Rail in the North and Midlands.

In addition, under its current franchise agreement, CrossCountry, which operates InterCity services between south-west England, Bristol, the north of England and Scotland, is required to develop proposals for timetable and capacity improvements to deliver for expected future passenger demand over the next few years.


Written Question
Railways: Repairs and Maintenance
Thursday 25th March 2021

Asked by: Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect a decision will be made on the Birmingham Airport Connectivity scheme, as part of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline process.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) for the North and Midlands is considering how best to deliver schemes such as HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and Midlands Engine Rail in the North and Midlands.

Birmingham Airport Connectivity project is part of the Midlands Engine Rail proposals and it will be appropriate to consider the case for this scheme when the Integrated Rail Plan concludes. We intend to publish the IRP this Spring.