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  • Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the introduction of a passing loop on the South Fylde Line.

    Stephen Hammond

    I have had no discussions with Network Rail on this subject. Network Rail is currently undertaking a Long Term Planning Process in consultation with industry, local and other stakeholders to identify priorities for future development of the rail network following the 2014-2019 Control Period.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Preston are in arrears to the Child Support Agency.

    Steve Webb

    Information on the number of people in Preston in arrears could not be provided without exceeding the disproportionate cost limit. This is because we would need to check individual cases as a parent can have more than one case.

    As of March 2014, there were 3,1901 Child Support Agency cases in arrears in the Local Authority of Preston.

    Notes:

    1. Figure rounded to the nearest 10.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much revenue has been raised by his Department from employment and support allowance claimants telephoning 0843 515 8650 in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

    Mike Penning

    DWP does not operate any telephone lines starting 0843, and therefore receives no revenue from 0843 515 8650.

    Similarly, DWP is unable to provide any information on the number of employment and support allowance claimants who call 0843 515 8650.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for personal independence payments submitted by people in Preston in 2013 have yet to be determined.

    Mike Penning

    Figures on the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims outstanding are not available.

    However a breakdown of the statistics published on 5th June 2014 show that during April to December 2013, 820 PIP new claims were registered and 250 decisions were made for individuals living in Preston Local Authority.*

    There are several reasons why a new claim could be registered and awaiting a decision. For example, the claimant is waiting to receive or has not yet returned their PIP 2 How your disability affects you form, the claimant is awaiting their assessment appointment date, the DWP have not yet made a decision on the claim, or the claimant has told DWP that they wish to withdraw their claim.

    *Source: PIP Computer System claimant records

  • Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the IT system developed by his Department for universal credit will be fully operating; and when this system will start to be decommissioned to make way for the digital solution developed by the Cabinet Office.

    Esther McVey

    As part of the wider transformation in the development of digital services, the Department will further develop the work completed jointly with the Government Digital Service to test and implement an enhanced digital service. This enhanced digital service will integrate work and benefits activity allowing us to deliver the full scope of Universal Credit for all claimant types.

    Our single target operating model sets out how we will transform our approach and ways of working to ultimately make the Universal Credit service fully available online. Where it is both practical and operationally sensible to do so, we will integrate together the enhanced digital service with the existing Universal Credit service.

    We expect an early version of the digital service to be introduced to a limited number of claimants and staff by the end of 2014.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the skills level of jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged between (a) 18 and 21 and (b) 22 and 24 years.

    Esther McVey

    All jobseeker’s are assessed at the beginning of their claim to Jobseeker’s Allowance for potential skills needs that are a barrier to them finding work. Where a skills need is identified, claimants are referred to courses.

    This Government is committed to ensuring jobseekers have the skills they need to get into work. In 2012/13 171,100 young people aged 19-24 and claiming benefit started a learning course, an increase of 30% over 2011/12.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for employment and support allowance submitted by people in Preston in 2013 have yet to be determined.

    Mike Penning

    We have interpreted the question to be for the number of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity Benefits Reassessments (IBR), Work Capability Assessments (WCA) which are still to be decided in 2013, for Preston Local Authority and this information is shown in the table below.

    ESA WCA assessments still in progress in Preston Local Authority January 2013 to September 2013

    New claims – Initial assessments

    200

    New claims – Repeat assessments

    100

    Incapacity Benefit re-assessments

    –

    Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.

    Notes:

    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“ denotes nil or fewer than 50.

    “

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what reforms his Department plans to make to the Work Programme following the downgrading of the project’s rating from green to amber by the Major Projects Authority.

    Esther McVey

    The Major Projects Authority has not downgraded the Work Programmes project rating. The rating was amber in 2012/13 and has remained amber in 2013/14.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk register for the universal credit programme.

    Esther McVey

    In line with standard practice, as the Universal Credit risk register includes details of a sensitive nature the Department will not be putting the risk register into the public domain.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged 18 to 24 years have home addresses in each region of the UK; and what proportion of all young people in each such region that figure represents.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.