Tag: Frank Field

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-28.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have been employed to cover HM Revenue and Customs’ tax credit telephone lines in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold this information.

HMRC has a number of significant peaks of customer contact every year, and since 2005 it has moved its resources around to meet those seasonal priorities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-11-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether all types of credit union account are eligible for the receipt of universal credit.

Priti Patel

DWP can pay Universal Credit into any credit union account.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Jobcentre Plus offices host work clubs and service academies.

Priti Patel

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will estimate how many pupils are being taught how to cook in the 2015-16 academic year.

Nick Gibb

The specific information requested is not held by the Department for Education.

Under the National Curriculum, as updated in September 2014, cooking is now compulsory for pupils in Key Stages 1-3 in maintained schools. Children are taught about food, nutrition and healthy eating and how to cook a repertoire of dishes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the average length of time taken by Concentrix to determine applications for mandatory reconsideration of a tax credits decision.

Mr David Gauke

The number of requests for mandatory reconsideration of a decision about a tax credits award that Concentrix have received since the commencement of their contract with HM Revenue and Customs in November 2014 is as follows:

Month	Number of MRs
November 2014	0
December 2014	2
January 2015	6
February 2015	38
March 2015	29
April 2015	137
May 2015	100
June 2015	45
July 2015	71
August 2015	108
September 2015	1221
October 2015	925
November 2015	871
December 2015	2371

The total is about 1.6% of all decisions Concentrix made in the same period.

As of 15 January 2016, there are 566 mandatory reconsiderations in progress that have been opened and Concentrix are waiting for customers to provide further evidence. Concentrix have 30 further mandatory reconsiderations that are awaiting determination.

The average length of time taken between Concentrix starting to work a mandatory reconsideration and making a decision is 24 days. This includes the time needed for customers to provide any further evidence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has contracted out the maintenance and screening arrangements for Universal Jobmatch.

Priti Patel

The current Universal Jobmatch service is delivered through a managed service by Monster Worldwide Ltd. Monster have built into the service some screening and monitoring tools which help to detect, deter and remedy inappropriate use of the site. Further to this, the Department carries out its own checks to ensure that Universal Jobmatch continues to deliver a safe and effective service for jobseekers and employers.

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.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is her policy that all children in households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.

Mr Sam Gyimah

We will continue to ensure that all children from the poorest families benefit from a free school meal. The introduction of Universal Credit and simplification of the benefits system mean that the eligibility criteria for free school meals will need to be updated. The Department for Education is continuing to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on this. In the meantime, while this work is on-going, any child whose parent or guardian is receiving Universal Credit will continue to be entitled to free school meals.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pieces of recording equipment are available in each region of the UK for the purposes of recording work capability assessments.

Priti Patel

Centre for Health and Disability Assessments offer audio recordings to customers who request them in advance, or on the day, and recording machines are now available at every assessment centre. For every 10,000 Work Capability Assessments completed the Department receives an average of 66 requests for an audio recorded assessment.

There are currently 24 audio-recording machines in Scotland and the North East; 43 in North and Central England; 39 in Wales and the West, and; 22 in London and South England, totalling 128 for Great Britain.

(Source: Centre for Health Disability Assessments)