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  • Karen Buck – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Karen Buck – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Buck on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many referrals of child maintenance debtors to credit reference agencies have been made since the power to do so was introduced in March 2015.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Department is committed to the policy of referring those defaulting on their child maintenance payments to credit reference agencies.

    We are currently working with the credit reference agencies to develop a secure process to ensure safe and accurate data sharing.

    As at 17 June 2016 there are a total of 686 cases prepared and ready to share with credit reference agencies; we will disclose this information with credit reference agencies once an appropriate process is in place.

    In interim we continue to issue warning letters to prompt action by non-resident parents to settle their arrears, and will where appropriate consider other enforcement actions on these cases.

  • Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations for re-assessments of entitlement to disability living allowance for children were (a) upheld and (b) rejected in the last three years for which figures are available.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The table below shows the number of Mandatory Reconsiderations received for the last three years.

    Disability Living Allowance

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/16

    Child Mandatory Reconsiderations received

    18,543

    21,647

    27,015

    The information for the second question could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

    Notes: Mandatory Reconsiderations were introduced from October 2013 as part of Appeals Reform. The figures shown in the table above for 2013/14 include reconsideration clearances (pre-reform) to enable the full year to be provided.

    Source: Department of Work and Pensions, Disability Living Allowance Computer System

    This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice and should be used with caution.

  • Rachael Maskell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rachael Maskell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) assistance dogs that are in service and (b) people who are waiting for assistance dogs; and if he will take steps to ensure that demand for assistance dogs is met.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We do not hold any information on either the number of assistance dogs in service or the number of people waiting to receive an assistance dog. Assistance dogs are trained and provided to those that need them, primarily through assistance dog charities. I will shortly be hosting a round table event with assistance dog charities and users, to discuss a variety of issues they have raised.

  • Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of disability living allowance for children re-assessments resulted in a change in the award entitlement in the last three years for which figures are available.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information requested is not available. Children are given fixed term awards and it is the responsibility of the parent to make a new application once the award ends if the child still has additional needs as a result of disability. If a relevant change of circumstances is reported then the claim could be reassessed. Although data is held on numbers of renewals and supersessions we do not hold data on outcomes from these.

  • Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many re-assessments for people already receiving disability living allowance for children have been conducted in the last three years for which figures are available.

    Justin Tomlinson

    For Disability Living Allowance children are given fixed term awards and it is the responsibility of the parent to make a new application once the award ends if the child still has additional needs as a result of disability. If a relevant change of circumstances is reported then the claim could be reassessed.

    The table below shows the number of Renewal decisions cleared on an existing award and the number of Supersession decisions cleared which relate to a change of circumstance on an existing award, for the last three years.

    Disability Living Allowance

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/16

    Child Renewals total clearances

    54,772

    68,148

    69,436

    Child Supersessions total clearances

    17,339

    16,275

    19,588

    Total Child Supersessions + Renewals

    72,111

    84,423

    89,024

    Source: Department of Work and Pensions, Disability Living Allowance Computer System – RDA 80123 report

    This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice and should be used with caution.

  • Tania Mathias – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tania Mathias – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to maintain a military presence on the site of Kneller Hall in Whitton.

    Mark Lancaster

    The decision to release Kneller Hall was confirmed as part of the Ministry of Defence’s land release announcement on 18 January 2016. Whilst the site will not be released before 2018, there are no plans to maintain a military presence (people permanently living and working) at the site once it has been released.

    I am keen to reinforce the Military relationship with the Kneller hall site, utilising our historic links with Twickenham Borough Council who have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging specific support for the Armed Forces Community.

    We have also previously committed to continue to hold concerts at Kneller Hall in order to continue the association of the area with the Armed Forces.

  • Iain Stewart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Iain Stewart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the security benefits of procuring four Successor submarines.

    Michael Fallon

    The United Kingdom’s continuous at sea nuclear deterrent will remain essential to our security today, and for as long as the global security situation demands.

    A four-boat fleet is the minimum needed to provide the assurance that at least one submarine will always be at sea on covert patrol.

  • Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of the international campaign to defeat ISIS/Daesh.

    Michael Fallon

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Calder Valley (Craig Whittaker) and Sheffield, Heeley (Louise Haigh).

  • Jessica Morden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jessica Morden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect members of the armed forces from bullying, sexual abuse and other crimes.

    Mark Lancaster

    Our Armed Forces are held in the highest esteem for their discipline, conduct and representation of our country. Any form of bullying or sexual abuse is utterly contrary to their culture, values and ethos. The Ministry of Defence strives to reduce crime and behaviour that impacts on victims and operational capability.

    Senior Officers and all personnel continue to reinforce the zero tolerance approach and actively counter any form of behaviour which damages the reputation of our Armed Forces.

  • Scott Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Scott Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Scott Mann on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect the armed forces from persistent legal claims.

    Penny Mordaunt

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House on 18 April 2016 to Question 904485 to the hon. Member for Braintree (James Cleverly).