Tag: Owen Smith

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 March 2016 to Question 30765, when his Department plans to publish its White Paper on improving support for disabled people.

Justin Tomlinson

Improving support for disabled people and people with health conditions to get into and stay in work is a key priority for Government.

The Secretary of State has outlined that he is starting a new conversation with disabled people and people with health conditions, their representatives, healthcare professionals and employers. He is listening to all of their ideas and this will help inform our plans.

These will be set out in due course.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many working households including people under 25 are likely to lose income as a result of changes he has announced to tax credits.

Damian Hinds

The Government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.

The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-11-05.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged 18 to 21 in receipt of housing benefit also received tax credits in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the effect on those people of planned reforms to tax credit.

Damian Hinds

The Government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.

The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to increase collection charges for the 2012 child maintenance scheme for the (a) parent with care and (b) non-resident parent.

Priti Patel

The level of the application charge and collection charges for parents with care and non-resident parents will be included in the statutory 30 month review of charging, which is due to be completed by December 2016. There are no current plans to increase the application fee or collection charges.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many arrears-only Child Support Agency cases repayments are currently being made towards the arrears.

Priti Patel

In the quarter to December 2015, 48,000 arrears only Child Support Agency cases made a payment towards their arrears.

For further information see table 21(page 54) in the Quarterly Summary Statistics at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-statistics–2

Note

1. Figured rounded to nearest 100.
2. Figures include 1993 and 2003 Schemes.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-04-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate the Government has made of the number of people who will (a) be eligible for and (b) participate in the Help to Save scheme in each year up to 2020.

Harriett Baldwin

Approximately 3.5 million people are expected to be eligible to open a Help to Save account in each year from the date the scheme is launched, which will be no later than April 2018.

The costing is based on the expectation that around half a million people will open a Help to Save account in the first two years that accounts are available.

Further information on the costing of this measure can be found on page 62 of the published Budget 2016 Policy Costings document, available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508147/PU1912_Policy_Costings_FINAL3.pdf

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who will be affected by proposed changes to debt repayment arrangements under universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson

Analysis undertaken by DWP has identified a large number of variables that will affect debt repayments from individuals claiming Universal Credit.

This includes, but is not limited to; the number of people claiming Universal Credit, the level of Universal Credit award they receive, the amount of debt they have (across DWP, HMRC and Local Authorities), the approach for recovering debt from Universal Credit and the approach for recovering debt by deduction from earnings.

Considering this, it is likely that most Universal Credit claimants with existing debts or debt repayment arrangements will be affected to some degree. At present there is insufficient data to predict the effects of these variables accurately.

Given the scale of the change, the likely confidence interval for forecasts for any time after 2016-17 is too large to give a meaningful or indicative answer at this time.

However, as Universal Credit rolls out, DWP will continue to analyse all available data to give a wider view on any changes to debt repayment agreements that are being seen under Universal Credit.

In addition, DWP will continue to work with HMRC and Local Authorities in developing forecasting models to show the changes that people with debt will see as their benefit payments move to Universal Credit.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what specific guidance and advice his Department will be issuing to pensioners on the change in the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme from a benefit to an interest-bearing loan.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department will be ensure that impartial advice is provided to all claimants, including pensioners, on taking out a loan. This will ensure that all claimants are able to make informed decisions about taking a SMI loan.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to improve rates of pay for people aged under 25.

Nick Boles

The priority for younger workers is to gain skills and experience and to secure work. This is already reflected in the National Minimum Wage rate structure, where the youth rate is currently £1.40 lower than the adult rate. This reflects that wages tend to increase through the early 20s, as workers gain more experience. Youth unemployment is higher compared to those over 25.

The wages of younger workers will continue to be underpinned by the National Minimum Wage as recommended by the Low Pay Commission at the highest possible level without affecting employment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent on housing benefit between 2010 and 2015.

Justin Tomlinson

Housing Benefit expenditure information is available in our Benefit Expenditure tables which can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2015

“