Tag: Stephen Timms

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of raising the participation age on the level of youth unemployment.

Esther McVey

Raising the participation age was legislated for in 2008 with the aim of ensuring young people have the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in the workplace. The number of young people in work is increasing, up by over 100,000 in the last year and by over 125,000 since 2010. A higher participation age should help to cut youth unemployment in the short-term, as it means more young people are studying full-time, and in the longer term, by increasing the level of skills and qualifications of the workforce. Over the last year 16-17 year olds and 18-24 year olds have both seen significant falls in unemployment, with unemployment down both for those studying full-time and for those who have left full-time education. During 2014 overall youth unemployment recorded the largest annual fall on record and the youth claimant count has now fallen for 38 consecutive months.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent on the youth contract in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Esther McVey

The spend on Youth Contract since it was launched in April 2012 is as follows:

2012/13 – £85.8m

2013/14 – £210.3m

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to pilot the application of universal credit in work conditionality by staff other than Jobcentre Plus advisers; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey

The in-work progression trials, due to begin in April 2015, will be delivered by Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from local authorities engaged in the accelerated rollout of universal credit to their areas from February 2015.

Mr Mark Harper

As part of the national roll out of Universal Credit (UC) which I announced on 12 October 2014, officials from my Department are in discussions with Local Authorities (LA) and their representative bodies across Great Britain including the Local Government Association, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Welsh Local Government Association in taking UC forward.

Senior Representatives jointly consider matters in the Partnership Forum, and in the Universal Support Task Force and most recently the Implementation and Expansion Sub Group.

These discussions include; agreeing go-live dates, managing communications, discussion on level of support LAs can provide to UC claimants and associated costs. All Representations from LAs are being managed at a local level during the course of these discussions.

The Minister for Welfare Reform has engaged with the local government sector including holding regular meetings with Councillor David Sparks, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is currently pursuing plans for jam jar bank accounts under the universal credit programme; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey

We are looking at a wide range of support options and considering the best outcomes for Universal Credit claimants which provide value for the taxpayer.

We are continuing to have discussions with providers of financial products and other stakeholders and we will make an announcement once those discussions have concluded.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his strategy for testing approaches to universal credit in work conditionality includes testing of a requirement to leave one job and start another in order to increase pay; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey

Each claimant will discuss their personal circumstances with a Work Coach and requirements will be personalised to take account of a claimant’s individual capability and circumstances. In some circumstances it may be reasonable to expect a claimant to apply for and take up new employment which will enable them to increase their earnings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what criteria his Department compiled the list of people and organisations to whom his Department’s consultation, Universal Credit data sharing between his Department and local support providers, published on 10 December 2014, was initially sent.

Mr Mark Harper

This was an open consultation hosted on GOV.UK, to which anyone, individual or organisation could respond. DWP also sent it to organisations with whom we have been working to develop proposals for local support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have become ineligible for the benefit as a consequence of increased income since October 2013.

Esther McVey

The information requested is not currently available.

The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on Universal Credit (UC) in September 2013 which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-01-13.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department’s guidance on delivering public value from spending proposals, under what circumstances procuring a system precedes completion of the full business case.

Danny Alexander

As set out in HM Treasury’s “The Green Book — appraisal and evaluation in Central Government”, all new policies, programmes and projects should be subject to comprehensive but proportionate assessment, where it is practicable, so as best to promote the public interest. The nature of this assessment will vary according to the nature of the proposal, and is likely to be influenced by factors such as the scale and complexity of the proposed procurement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people for whom Youth Contract wage incentives have been paid since April 2012 have been (a) male, (b) female, (c) disabled and (d) Black and minority ethnic.

Esther McVey

The information is not available.