The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ronnie Cowan on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to ensure that his Department undertakes research into the potential merits of a universal basic income.
Damian Hinds
We have no current plans to conduct research on this topic.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart C. McDonald on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to update the list of medical conditions covered by industrial injuries disablement benefit.
Justin Tomlinson
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) is the scientific body with the statutory role of advising Ministers on the list of prescribed diseases under the Industrial Injures Disablement Benefit scheme. In particular, which diseases and occupations should be prescribed for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit purposes.
IIAC continually reviews the scientific literature to ascertain whether the necessary level of proof may have become available with regard to diseases and occupations not currently included or if further consideration is required in respect of those already listed.
IIAC will revisit any subject if new, sound and consistent scientific evidence becomes available. The Government will then give careful consideration to any advice the Council may provide, and consider legislative proposals in the light of that advice.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure consistency in the length of intervals between awards of personal independence payments.
Penny Mordaunt
The assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to treat people as individuals, considering the impact of their impairment or health condition on their everyday life and how each claimant has personally adapted to living with a disability. The length of an award for PIP is based on the needs of the individual claimant and whether these are likely to change in the future, as a result, for example, of treatment or changes in their health condition.
The Department monitors all aspects of the PIP application process including the performance of the assessment providers, Atos Healthcare and Capita. The reports of Health Professionals who carry out assessments are subject to quality audit, to ensure accurate advice on the best time to review a case based on a claimant’s individual circumstances.
The PIP Assessment Guide for Health Professionals carrying out assessments includes guidance on how to determine the length of an award – Section 2.9 Prognosis (page 54) and 2.10 Review dates (page 56).
This guidance can be accessed on the gov.uk website:
There is also guidance and information for DWP decision makers on how best to establish the length of an award.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the effect of (a) benefit sanctions and (b) work capability assessments on people living with disabilities in (i) Glasgow and (ii) other parts of Scotland.
Damian Hinds
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer to question 905768 which was provided by Justin Tomlinson MP, the Minister for Disabled People at that time, which can be found at:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time is for claimants of universal credit to receive their first payment.
Damian Hinds
The information you have requested is not currently quality assured for release.
We hope to be able to release data on this later this year after it has been quality assured.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether any councils have asked for attendance allowance funding to be distributed to recipients via the provision of social care services.
Mr Marcus Jones
The Government announced in December that it would consider giving more responsibility to councils in England to support older people with care needs – including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance.
We intend to continue to discuss openly with interested parties what the options are, and give all stakeholders a voice in determining whether and how to proceed with any reform. The Government is currently consulting on the implementation of commitments on 100% business rates retention for councils in England. The consultation seeks views on options for devolving new responsibilities to local government as part of those reforms, and this is one of the options about which we are consulting. The consultation document is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/self-sufficient-local-government-100-business-rates-retention
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Green of Deddington on 2016-07-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many immigration offenders, excluding failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders, have been removed in each of the last five years for which figures are available, and how many of those first arrived in the UK on a student visa.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
The information requested regarding Foreign National Offenders and total returns is available in the tables attached.
The Home Office is unable to provide data as requested for those who first arrived in the UK on a student visa as this would involve cross checking databases and incur disproportionate costs.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Green of Deddington on 2016-07-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when Directive 2014/54/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers will be transposed into UK law.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The UK already fulfils the obligations set out in the Directive and these are broadly reflected in our domestic laws.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-07-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they made on 19 May to the government of Saudi Arabia about the case of Mr Waleed Abu Al-Khair; what response they received; and whether there has been any progress on that case since then.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are not aware of progress in the case of Walid Abu Al-Khair since last raised with the Saudi Arabian authorities on the 19 May. We believe that we will be more successful in discussing cases privately with Saudi Arabia and we will continue to follow this case closely and will raise when appropriate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-07-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve the quality of initial interviews and decisions in asylum cases in order to reduce the need for appeals.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits and grants protection for those who genuinely need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. In every asylum case the particular circumstances of the individual is considered in light of published country information.
All asylum decision-makers receive extensive training on how to consider asylum claims and are expected to follow published Home Office policy guidance. The 5-week Foundation Training Programme (FTP) for new decision makers trains staff on all aspects of the asylum decision making process. All decision makers are currently receiving credibility training. This course trains decision makers on how to assess the evidential value of their interview questions, the various reasons why someone may not come across as credible in an asylum interview and discusses issues such as speculation and implausibility. Asylum decision-makers carefully assess the protection needs of each asylum claimant following an interview by assessing all available evidence provided by the claimant in light of published country information and policy guidance. The Home Office systematically assesses the quality of asylum decisions against a detailed quality audit framework drawn up and agreed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
We expect asylum claimants to disclose all relevant evidence to support their claim at the earliest opportunity so that we can properly consider their claim. We aim to reduce the appeal rate by analysing the reasons why appeals are allowed and using this to further improve guidance and training. We are committed to continuous improvement.