The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that women’s rights are not undermined by the use of Sharia law.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Government is committed to the protection and promotion of women’s rights. Sharia law has no jurisdiction in England and Wales and the Government has no intention of changing this position. Everyone is equal before the law.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to improve broadband coverage in rural areas.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Phase one of the superfast roll-out programme is making good progress with all 44 projects in delivery.
Two thirds of projects (29 out of 44) have live superfast cabinets making superfast broadband available to thousands of homes and businesses across the country.
We are now investing the additional £250 million to take coverage of superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people with the rising cost of funerals.
Steve Webb
The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme continues to provide help towards a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral. In 2012/13, over 35,000 awards were made worth £42.7 million, with an average award of £1,225.
Social Fund Budgeting Loans are also available to those on income related benefits to cover costs relating to funeral expenses.
In addition, any arrears of benefit which were due to the deceased at date of death are disregarded. This means that such arrears are no longer deducted from the funeral payment award.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker’s allowance claimants have been made subject to a benefit sanction since 26 June 2013 because they have not been prepared to learn English.
Esther McVey
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether all staff employed by Atos Healthcare to perform the company’s contract with his Department for the conduct of work capability assessments will receive full protection under TUPE provisions.
Mike Penning
When Atos Healthcare withdraws from the delivery of work capability assessments in February 2015, a new national provider will be brought in. It is expected that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations will apply and most of the Atos Healthcare employees will transfer to the new provider.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many short-term benefit advances were made between April 2013 and March 2014.
Esther McVey
The total number of Short Term Benefit Advances made between April 2013 and March 2014 was 78,021.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of single people who will be claiming universal credit in the first year of the roll-out of universal credit in the six boroughs of the Merseyside Jobcentre Plus district.
Esther McVey
[Holding answer 1 May 2014]
The Department announced on 5th December 2013 that Universal Credit would roll out in the North West in Summer 2014. The Department confirmed on 30 April that it is now in discussion with relevant Local Authorities in the North West on the detailed planning to make that happen.
As with Jobseeker’s Allowance, the Department does not hold forecasts of UC claimant numbers split by both borough, and then by marital status within that borough. Claimant numbers at this degree of detail will be influenced by a range of factors; these include likely local demographics and likely economic conditions within each borough. It is not possible to combine these in any meaningful way, and any such estimates might prove to be unreliable.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 1.197 of the Autumn Statement 2013, what the expected cost to the public purse will be of the basic skills pilot; how many people will benefit from that pilot; what its start and end dates will be; and if he will make a statement.
Esther McVey
The 18-21 Skills for Work pilots will be funded from within the Department’s budget settlement as agreed at Autumn Statement 2013.
Under the pilot, young people making a claim to JSA between the ages of 18 and 21 years will be screened for English and Maths below level 2. Those identified as having a skill need will be referred on a mandatory basis to Maths or English training.
It is projected 10,000 JSA claimants will be referred to learning. The pilot will start in late Autumn 2014 and last up to nine months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the average change in the number of days people will spend claiming benefits as a result of the help-to-work scheme.
Esther McVey
We have a strong evidence base which shows that Help to Work has a positive impact in terms of reducing the number of days claimants spend on benefit.
Over almost two years, claimants who took part in a trailblazer for Community Work Placement (CWP) and Mandatory Intervention Regime (MIR) spent on average 21 (CWP) and 26 (MIR) fewer days on benefits than an equivalent group of JSA claimants.
They also spent more time in work than the control group: 9 days for CWP and 11 days for MIR participants.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pamela Nash on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who have received a benefit sanction have appealed this decision and won sanction in (a) Scotland, (b) Airdrie and Shotts constituency and (c) North Lanarkshire in each of the last four years up to the most recent period for which figures are available.
Esther McVey
The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.