Blog

  • Eilidh Whiteford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Eilidh Whiteford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on women with a mental function problem of the different assessment recommended for them in its Work Capability Assessment handbook on risk of self-harm, suicide or other risk.

    Priti Patel

    The Department took its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 into account when making changes to the WCA handbook and recognises it has an on-going equality duty under the Act and is committed to complying with this duty.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish the White Paper on supporting people with health conditions and disabilities to get into work.

    Priti Patel

    As announced in the Spending Review, the Government will publish a White Paper in 2016 that will set out reforms to improve support for people with health conditions and disabilities.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what exemptions he plans to put in place to protect vulnerable households from restrictions to housing benefit in the social sector.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The existing exemptions that already apply to private rented sector tenants will be carefully considered prior to implementing the Local Housing Allowance cap for tenants living in the social rented sector.

    It should be noted that the policy applies from April 2018, but only where new tenancies have been taken out or renewed after April 2016.

    The Discretionary Housing Payment scheme will be available to Local Authorities to protect the vulnerable.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed reduction in the maximum length of time for which housing benefit is payable for tenants travelling overseas on claimants required by their employers to work overseas for extended periods; and what exemptions he plans to put in place to protect claimants in such circumstances.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We are aligning treatment of temporary absences from Great Britain in housing benefit with the current treatment in Universal Credit.

    We plan to make a number of easements for people in work, including for members of the armed forces, mariners and continental shelf workers.

  • Norman Lamb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Norman Lamb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Norman Lamb on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on claimants with mental illness of his proposals to extend jobseeker’s allowance conditionality.

    Priti Patel

    We have made no proposals to extend Jobseekers Allowance conditionality.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list the (a) location and (b) dates of visits he has made to food banks since May 2010.

    Justin Tomlinson

    DWP Ministers have visited a number of third sector organisations, faith groups, civil society organisations and charities, including food banks since May 2010.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2015 to Question 12462, when he expects to announce further policy details of the Youth Obligation.

    Priti Patel

    The detailed policy design is still under development. We will make further announcements over the coming months as we develop the policy detail.

  • Norman Lamb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Norman Lamb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Norman Lamb on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to issue guidance on how its proposed extension of jobseeker’s allowance conditionality will apply to claimants with mental illness.

    Priti Patel

    We have made no proposals to extend Jobseekers Allowance conditionality.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on the Work Choice programme to date; and what the estimated total cost of that programme over its lifetime is.

    Priti Patel

    Departmental expenditure on Work Choice contracts to date is £451million. This covers the period from the start of the programme in Financial Year 2010-11 to November 2015.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the measures proposed in clause 13 of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on claimants with (a) Parkinson’s disease and (b) other incurable and degenerative conditions.

    Priti Patel

    The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in Bill on 20th July.

    Ministers have considered impacts with regard to all relevant legal obligations when formulating the welfare policies announced in the Bill.