The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect on employment outcomes of moving care leavers from jobseeker’s allowance to income support.
Damian Hinds
We have not made an assessment of the potential effect on employment outcomes of moving care leavers from Jobseekers Allowance to Income Support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the take-up of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme by children from low-income families.
Jane Ellison
This information is not available. Take-up for the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is assessed as a percentage of eligible schools registered to receive fruit and vegetable boxes from the scheme. The prime contractor for the Scheme, NHS Supply Chain, estimates that 99% of eligible schools are registered with the scheme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what budget was allocated to the Flexible Support Fund in the most recent financial year for which data is available; and how much of that budget remained unspent.
Priti Patel
The budget allocated for Flexible Support Fund in 14/15 was £136m [excluding the support contract which was a further £20m]. Spend was £72m, leaving an underspend of £64m
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the report on overseas domestic worker visas carried out by James Ewins.
James Brokenshire
Mr Ewins’s report has been submitted to the Home Office and will be published shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new state pension statements have been returned due to being sent to the wrong address since May 2014.
Justin Tomlinson
We do not have the information requested. I can confirm we have a robust process in place to review all incorrect address returns and properly scrutinise and update customer account details when address is confirmed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licences for experimentation with animals the Animals and Science Committee granted in the most recent year for which data is available.
Mr John Hayes
The Animals in Science Committee (ASC) are responsible for providing impartial, balanced and objective advice to Ministers relating to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The Committee is not responsible for granting licences. Under Section 9 of ASPA, the Secretary of State may consult the Committee regarding licence applications. Current policy requires referral of the following categories of project licence application:
• the use of wild-caught non-human primates;
• the use of cats, dogs, equidae or non-human primates in severe procedures;
• use of endangered species;
• projects with major animal welfare or ethical implications;
• projects involving the use of admixed embryos falling into category 3 of the Academy of Medical Science report on Animals Containing Human Material and category 2 where the predominance of an admixed embryo is unclear or uncertain;
• projects which may invoke any of the ‘safeguard clauses’ in the Directive with respect to the purpose of primate use, proposals for the use of a great ape, or proposals to cause long-lasting pain, suffering or distress that cannot be ameliorated; or
• projects of any kind raising novel or contentious issues, or giving rise to serious societal concerns.
In 2014, the most recent year for which we have data available, the ASC provided advice on four project licences. These were subsequently granted by the Home Office. The numbers of licences the ASC provided advice on in 2015 will be published in the ASC Annual Report later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of people who were interviewed under caution (a) for all offences and (b) for sexual offences were subsequently charged in each of the last three years.
Mike Penning
The Home Office does not hold the data requested.
The Home Office collects data from police forces on the number of offences that resulted in a charge but does not collect data on the number of interviews held under caution.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the likely change in the number of (a) children and (b) working-age adults who will be in households with net equivalised income below 60 per cent of the median (i) before and (ii) after housing costs, not including the effect of transitional protection for claimants migrated onto universal credit, in 2020-21 as a result of changes to universal credit work allowance announced in the Summer Budget 2015.
Priti Patel
The impact of the work allowance change cannot be considered in isolation – it is part of a broader package of measures announced at the Summer Budget which were updated for the Autumn Statement. This included the increase to the personal tax allowance and introduction of the national living wage. Taken together, these reforms are designed to support people into employment and then enable them to progress in work and generate more income for themselves.
Universal Credit is a key element of these reforms. It is designed to ensure that work always pays. The single taper rate means people have a clear incentive to work, and to work more.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to reply to the letter of 15 February 2016 from the Rt hon. Member for Birkenhead regarding free school meals.
Mr Sam Gyimah
The Secretary of State has received the Rt hon. Member for Birkenhead’s letter of 15 February 2016 about free school meals and will respond shortly, and within the normal timeframe for correspondence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to phase out the use of an 0345 number for the universal credit helpline and replace it with a freephone number.
Priti Patel
DWP have no plans to phase out the 0345 number. The Department is transforming the way it delivers its services embracing new digital channels and technology. The main route to access Universal Credit is online and research shows that around 90% of claimants make their claim online.