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  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the UK to leave the EU since 23 June 2016; and what further such steps his Department plans to take in the remainder of 2016.

    Damian Hinds

    The Department for Exiting the European Union has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this it is working very closely with other government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions and a wide range of other interested parties.

  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether welfare claimants receive refunds for postage and other costs incurred in obtaining a doctor’s certificate as required by his Department and ensuring its safe transmission by post.

    Caroline Nokes

    For DWP purposes a statement of fitness for work (SOFFW) can be obtained from a GP at no cost to the claimant.

    DWP does not refund postage or other costs associated with obtaining a SOFFW. Claimants are notified when making a claim that there is a requirement to supply a SOFFW to meet the ESA entitlement conditions. To support this DWP provides options for postage, either a Freepost Licence code or a pre-paid envelope at no cost to the claimant. These are handled by Royal Mail and subject to their governance and safeguarding arrangements.

  • Hannah Bardell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Hannah Bardell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hannah Bardell on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that personal protective equipment which does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 is not used in the UK.

    Margot James

    Under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 it is a criminal offence to place on the market personal protective equipment that does not comply with the regulations or to supply any such equipment unless it is safe. Trading Standards are responsible for taking appropriate action against personal protective equipment that does not comply with the Regulations. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy continues to work closely with Trading Standards to ensure that any Personal Protective Equipment on the market is safe.

  • Hannah Bardell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Hannah Bardell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hannah Bardell on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to take steps to incorporate into UK law the new personal protective equipment regulations.

    Margot James

    The new Personal Protective Equipment Regulation adopted earlier this year, will apply from 21 April 2018 and while it does not need transposing into UK legislation there will need to be implementing UK legislation to provide for enforcement and penalties. The Government will consult on these provisions in due course.

  • Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the adequacy of the level of protection against discrimination in employment, training and career development for people with disabilities.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Equality legislation for Disabled People is devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

    In Great Britain, the Equality Act 2010 defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-today activities”. Where an employee/applicant or service-user has a condition that fits the definition of a disability, they are protected under the 2010 Act. Employers and service-providers are therefore required to make reasonable adjustments available in order to ensure that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who do not have a disability.

    It is for the courts to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether there has been disability discrimination where a reasonable adjustment has not been made available.

    For those who need additional support over and above that which is a reasonable adjustment, Access to Work can help. Access to Work provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. Access to Work continues to support over 36,000 people per year take up or retain employment.

    Disability Confident, on which this Department leads, was launched by the then Prime Minister in July 2013 to challenge perceptions, engage employers and promote good practice.

    Disability Confident is about creating a movement for change – getting employers to think differently about disability and to take action to improve how they attract, recruit and retain disabled workers.

  • Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve the life chances of people with disabilities.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The Government is committed to improving the life chances of disabled people and has made a commitment to halve the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people.

    The Government is working with employers through Disability Confident to challenge attitudes towards disability and ensure that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. Since 2013 the number of disabled people in work has increased by almost half a million (493,000). Nearly 3.4 million disabled people are now in employment.

    Access to Work provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose heath or disability affects the way they do their job. 36,470 individuals were helped by Access to Work in the 2015/16 including record numbers of people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and young people. Last year’s Spending review announced a real-terms increase in funding for access to work starting in 16/17 to enable the scheme to help a further 25,000 people by the end of the parliament.

    Work Choice is a voluntary contracted specialist disability employment programme introduced in 2010 and helps people with disabilities whose needs cannot be met through other employment programmes, Access to Work or workplace adjustments. It provides individually tailored support (e.g. job search skills, basic training, and work placements) for disabled people who face the most complex employment barriers to find and stay in work.

    Later this year, we will produce a Green Paper exploring a range of options to close the disability employment gap and transform the lives and prospects of disabled people, and conduct a consultation which will reach out to disabled people and their representative organisations.

  • John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received on section 75 employer debt in pension funds; and if he will make a statement.

    Richard Harrington

    Last year, we undertook a call for evidence on issues around section 75 debt and employers in multi-employer schemes and have been actively considering the responses.

    More recently, we have been engaging direct with interested parties as we seek to ensure the appropriate balance between protection for members and burdens on employers.

  • Tania Mathias – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tania Mathias – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support the parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities to enable them to find employment.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Where parents of disabled children would like to go out to work, DWP wants to make it easier for them to do so. Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches provide personalised support, tailored to meet the needs and requirements of the claimant, helping them to find work that fits with their individual circumstances. Work Coaches will also endeavour to support the claimant to overcome barriers that might make finding a job more difficult and will work with the individual to identify the most appropriate help available.

    Under Universal Credit, extra financial support is available to parents for each dependent child who is disabled. Universal Credit also provides working parents with help with childcare costs. In April 2016, we extended this support to cover up to 85% of the eligible costs of childcare.

    Parents of disabled children also receive help with childcare through the free childcare entitlements. All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week, and we are extending this free entitlement to 30 hours per week for working parents of three and four year olds. In addition, two year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare if they have a current statement of special educational need or an education, health and care plan, or receive Disability Living Allowance.

    The Department for Education is consulting on additional funding for children with special education needs and disabilities as part of its consultation on early years funding which closes on 22 September 2016.

    Working parents of disabled children will also benefit from extra support under Tax-Free Childcare which will be introduced from early 2017. This will provide Government support with childcare costs of up to £4,000 per year for a disabled child up to the age of 17.

  • John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many partnerships have been adversely affected by section 75 employer debt in pension funds; how many such partnerships have been (a) converted to limited liability and (b) declared insolvent; and what advice his Department has provided to partnerships facing potential section 75 employer debts.

    Richard Harrington

    We do not have any information about numbers of employers who may be liable for a section 75 debt. This is a matter between the employer and the scheme.

    The Department does not provide advice to any employers about potential section 75 debts. The Pensions Regulator provides a range of information and guidance on all matters related to pensions scheme funding. However, employers or former employers should take their own professional and legal advice about their liabilities.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to improve the affordability of existing pension schemes for companies.

    Richard Harrington

    The Government is aware of the fact that some parts of the Defined Benefit (DB) pension sector are concerned about the current economic climate, but the situation is very mixed, and the experiences of schemes differ. We do not believe there is a systemic problem but we continually look at ways to improve the affordability of schemes.