Tag: Owen Smith

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has held with food bank providers on his Department’s plans to locate job advisers in food banks.

Priti Patel

Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches already undertake outreach work every day in local communities. Work Coaches recently began offering back-to-back support in the Lalley Centre in Manchester. Early feedback has been positive. We will reflect on this, and consider if there is potential for expansion

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the final version of the Evaluation of Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy was agreed within his Department.

Justin Tomlinson

The contractors who were commissioned to undertake the report into the evaluation of the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy provided the Department with the final version of the report on 8 December 2015.

It was agreed within the Department on 11 December 2015 and publication details were announced on the same day.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, under what change of circumstances a tax credit claimant will naturally be migrated onto universal credit.

Priti Patel

The events that can trigger a change of circumstances depend on many factors. They are similar to the circumstances that would trigger a new claim to existing benefits or tax credits, which would also lead to a recalculation of entitlement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-03-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of disabled people who will lose their entitlement to the (a) standard rate of and (b) enhanced rate of personal independence payment as a result of changes to the assessment criteria regarding the use of aids and appliances for activities five and six.

Justin Tomlinson

It is not possible to forecast exact figures because it will depend on factors such as caseload, possible behavioural change, and the outcome of DLA reassessment outcomes.

We estimate that in 2020/21 there will be a total of 640,000 people who will be in some way affected by these changes.

However, a significant number will continue to qualify for an award, and for many the effects will be notional because they are not yet receiving the benefit. Claimants affected may also remain eligible for other forms of Government support. This includes, but is not limited to, the mobility component of PIP, ESA, local welfare provision, support through the NHS, adult social care and the Disabled Facilities Grant.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-04-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent advertising the Fit for Work programme since that programme went live.

Justin Tomlinson

The cumulative cost of marketing and advertising to Health Management Ltd (HML), which delivers Fit for Work in England and Wales, has been £1,865,414 since the programme went live. The Scottish Government is responsible for delivering Fit for Work in Scotland, and has spent £27,708 on marketing activities and a further £187,679 on its website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 192 of the Office of Budget Responsibility’s report, Economic and fiscal outlook, published in March 2016, how the estimated savings of £0.8 billion by 2020-21 from the minimum income floor of universal credit were calculated.

Priti Patel

The savings were estimated using DWP’s and HMRC’s models of the tax and benefit system. Extracting the full details of the calculations carried out within the models would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job advisers he plans to locate in food banks.

Priti Patel

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers I gave on 3 November 2015 to Question 14114 and 14139

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were paid their Christmas bonus on their benefits in the first week of December 2015.

Priti Patel

For Working Age a total of 430,160 customersreceived their Christmas Bonus with their benefit payment for the period covering week commencing 7th December.

The Pension Service has deemed that to provide a response to this PQ for any of their products could only be provided at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of times a universal credit claimant has been paid housing benefit and housing costs at the same time resulting in an overpayment of housing benefit.

Priti Patel

The information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the risk register for the universal credit programme.

Priti Patel

In accordance with government policy in this area, the Department does not publish risk registers for major programmes.