Tag: Frank Field

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payments entitlement decisions on applications made by people not suffering with a terminal illness were made in each of the three months to June 2014.

Mike Penning

The available data on the number of claims and decisions made up to 28 March 2014 has been published and is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/317425/pip-statistical-release-june-2014.pdf. Entitlement data to PIP up to 28 February 2014 are available using the Stat-Xplore tool: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

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These statistics and data will be updated in due course.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration is given to fibromyalgia in the work capability assessment; and how many and what proportion of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia have been declared fit for work following such an assessment.

Mike Penning

As with any medical condition, DWP recognises fibromyalgia as a potentially significantly disabling condition. The statistical information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payments applications made by people not suffering with a terminal illness were made in each of the three months to June 2014.

Mike Penning

The available data on the number of claims and decisions made up to 28 March 2014 has been published and is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/317425/pip-statistical-release-june-2014.pdf. Entitlement data to PIP up to 28 February 2014 are available using the Stat-Xplore tool: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

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These statistics and data will be updated in due course.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-05-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit budgeting advances were made between April 2013 and April 2014.

Esther McVey

Budgeting support is available at the start of a Universal Credit claim. The requested information is not currently available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help blind and partially sighted passengers travel on buses.

Stephen Hammond

The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that all disabled people have the same access to transport services and opportunities to travel as other members of society. The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) outline specific requirements for the bus industry to ensure that buses are as accessible as possible for disabled passengers. Latest statistics (September 2013) show that 78% of buses in England now meet PSVAR accessibility requirements, while 92% operate with a low floor facility and these figures continue to grow steadily.

The Department also recognises that blind and partially sighted passengers find audio and visual announcements particularly useful when travelling on buses. We will therefore continue to encourage bus operators and local authorities to invest in audio/visual announcement systems for their buses where possible. However, we also understand that this technology comes at a considerable cost.

With this in mind, my noble colleague, Baroness Kramer wrote to bus operators on 4^th February 2014 to encourage the development of simpler, more affordable audio/visual announcement systems for buses that can provide benefits to as many passengers as possible. Alongside this, the Department for Transport is also looking into the possibility of establishing a research initiative involving small businesses and academic institutions through the ‘Transport Systems Catapult’to encourage further innovation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for personal independence payments have been made by claimants whose disability living allowance payments have been terminated; and what interim financial support his Department makes available to such claimants.

Mike Penning

There is no data available on claims to personal independence payment (PIP) by claimants in receipt of, or previously in receipt of, disability living allowance (DLA).

Exisiting recipients of DLA claiming PIP do not have their DLA terminated at the point of claim but continue to recieve their DLA while the PIP claim is being assessed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-05-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 526-7, on student visas, if she will publish details of the successful pilot with one university on ensuring overseas students return home once their course is completed.

James Brokenshire

Foreign national students who had been served with an adverse immigration
decision were, at times, encountering a delay in receiving their travel
documents back from the Home Office. On occasion this resulted in their
immigration status changing to an overstayer.

The pilot referred to was conducted through an informal relationship between
the South Central Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team and the
International Student Advisors embedded within two local Universities. Through
this link, those whose leave has been curtailed, have had an adverse decision,
or wish to depart the UK are provided with local assistance by the Immigration
Enforcement team. The pilot has enabled the local ICE team to facilitate the
return of travel documents quickly, resulting in an earlier departure for the
student. This has benefits for both the student and University as becoming an
overstayer could jeopardise future applications from students to continue their
studies. During 2013/14, fifty students were assisted in this way from two
Universities (this is local data taken from local records that has not been
sourced from an official database).

The Government is looking at how this example of local good practice can be
extended nationally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects Mr Andrew Cottrell of Prenton, to undergo his medical examination as part of his application for the personal independence payment.

Mike Penning

The Department cannot respond to the House of Commons with regards to a specific case.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure claimants experiencing delays in their personal independence payments assessments are kept better informed of the status of their applications.

Mike Penning

We have taken immediate action to ensure that claimants receive all the information they need.

This includes a number of actions:

– SMS updates acknowledging receipt of the ”How your disability affects you” form.

– Updated Gov.uk to include clear information.

– Detailed information on estimated journey times.