The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what total amount has been spent by his Department to date on the (a) design and (b) implementation of universal credit.
Priti Patel
In ‘Universal Credit at Work’ published in October 2014, we stated that the total cost of implementation is £1.8bn, of which a third (c£0.6bn) has been spent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who are in receipt of support for mortgage interest are also in receipt of (a) income-based jobseeker’s allowance, (b) income-based employment and support allowance, (c) income support and (d) pension credit.
Justin Tomlinson
The information requested is in the table:
|
2015/16 |
Number of SMI claims |
As % of all SMI claims |
|
Jobseekers allowance |
16,000 |
10% |
|
Employment and support allowance |
56,000 |
34% |
|
Income support |
24,000 |
14% |
|
Pension credit |
71,000 |
43% |
|
Total |
167,000 |
100% |
*The percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding
These figures are from the DWP summer budget 2015 benefit expenditure and caseload tables, which can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2015
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether participants in Daily Work Search Review under the Help to Work scheme are set quotas for completing a minimum number of job applications.
Priti Patel
Under Daily Work Search Review claimants need to provide evidence of their work search activity on a daily basis. Their Claimant Commitment will specify their work search activity requirements which can be up to 35 hours a week. The Claimant Commitment is tailored to claimants’ individual circumstances.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2015 to Question 15090, how much his Department spent on costs associated with the roll-out of universal credit between October 2014 and October 2015.
Priti Patel
DWP’S audited and approved accounts are available for the period October 2014 to March 2015 inclusive. These show DWP spent £139m on costs associated with the delivery of Universal Credit (UC).
Expenditure for the period from April 2015 to October 2015 has not yet been audited and approved, and has not been included as it is subject to change.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints were referred by HM Revenue and Customs’ National Minimum Wage Risk Unit to National Minimum Wage compliance teams in each of the last six years.
Mr David Gauke
The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the confidential Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review all complaints that are referred to them. However, some complaints may not lead to the commencement of an investigation. This might be due to incomplete information being provided, or the worker subsequently wishing to withdraw their complaint. Similarly, multiple complaints about the same employer would only be recorded under one investigation.
In 2014/15, 2489 worker complaints and 691 pieces of third party information were referred to HMRC. However, I reiterate that not all complaints will lead to an investigation. In previous years, HMRC did not record statistics by complaints received, but by investigations completed. In 2014/15, HMRC completed 2204 investigations. I refer the honourable member to the answer provided to her on 6 May 2014 at Hansard Column 110W for information on prior years.
Staff across HMRC contribute to enforcing NMW, including people who work in legal advice, debt management, technical support and criminal investigation amongst others, but HMRC does not record the specific numbers of those staff involved beyond this. The budget allocated to HMRC by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is provided as an overall amount. I therefore refer the honourable member to the answers provided to her at UIN 16853 for budget details & UIN 16938 for information on staffing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-02.
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2015 to Question 16871, how many full-time equivalent staff worked in the Specialist Fraud Division in each of the last six years.
Robert Buckland
The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff that have worked in the Specialist Fraud Division in each of the last six years is shown below.
March 2010 – 142 FTE
March 2011 – 134 FTE
March 2012 – 138 FTE
March 2013 – 258 FTE
March 2014 – 233 FTE
March 2015 – 230 FTE
Note: The figures presented above reflect staff in post on 31 March of each year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-07.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to Questions 17623, 17624, 17625, 17626 and 17627, tabled on 25 November 2015 for answer on 30 November 2015.
Mr David Gauke
I have done so.
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.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what feedback his Department has received from (a) service users, (b) employers and (c) GPs on the Fit for Work service since its launch.
Justin Tomlinson
An evaluation strategy is in place for Fit for Work. As part of this, a formal process evaluation is being undertaken. The formal evaluation will include feedback from employee users of the service, GPs and employers. Return to work will also be covered. Monthly performance group meetings take place between the Department and the providers in both England/Wales and Scotland together with weekly meetings to discuss management information and performance issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls have been made to the Fit for Work helpline in each month since its launch.
Justin Tomlinson
The number of calls made to the Fit for Work helpline each month since the launch of the service is :
| December 2014 | 54 |
| January 2015 | 198 |
| February 2015 | 316 |
| March 2015 | 364 |
| April 2015 | 331 |
| May 2015 | 408 |
| June 2015 | 501 |
| July 2015 | 602 |
| August 2015 | 653 |
| September 2015 | 852 |
| October 2015 | 965 |
| November 2015 | 1084 |