Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the Government's position on fee paying and no win no fee organisations, who complete benefit applications such as PIP and attendance allowance for constituents which are inaccurate; and if he will consider whether regulation of these services ought to be extended to protect vulnerable applicants.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of annually uprating Local Housing Allowance to the 30th percentile of local market rents.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to issue guidance to employers on adapting staff uniform policies during heatwaves.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance to employers on measures they can take to protect workers during periods of extreme heat. This includes considering changes to working arrangements and relaxing formal dress codes, including staff uniform policies, where appropriate. However, employers must ensure that any personal protective equipment required for the work activity continues to be worn.
HSE will be launching a public consultation on proposed changes to the Approved Code of Practice for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, including those relating to workplace temperature and there will be an opportunity to respond in due course.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Health and Safety Executive guidance on workplace uniform requirements during periods of extreme heat.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance to employers on measures they can take to protect workers during periods of extreme heat. This includes considering changes to working arrangements and relaxing formal dress codes, including staff uniform policies, where appropriate. However, employers must ensure that any personal protective equipment required for the work activity continues to be worn.
HSE will be launching a public consultation on proposed changes to the Approved Code of Practice for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, including those relating to workplace temperature and there will be an opportunity to respond in due course.
Asked by: Mark Garnier (Conservative - Wyre Forest)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure the consultation entitled Discussion paper on key elements of the Scale Policy has regard to clause (a) 40, sub-section 28L and (b) 45 of the Pension Schemes Act.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the emails of 18th May, 8th June, 24th June and 19th August on the Child Maintenance Service, case reference OG13220, from the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of parents entitled to an enhanced State Pension as a result of Home Responsibilities Protection but yet to apply.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to roll out the Adult Skills Fund to areas not yet covered by this fund, including Dorset; and if she will outline a timetable for doing so.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) supports adults to gain the skills they need to move into work, apprenticeships or further learning. Residents of Dorset are already able to access ASF-funded provision. In areas without a devolved strategic authority including Dorset, the Department for Work and Pensions funds ASF provision directly for eligible learners.
As of August 2026, around 76% of ASF funding is devolved to 20 Strategic Authorities, which are responsible for adult skills provision for their residents and for allocating funding to providers. In non-devolved areas, the Department continues to fund and manage ASF provision directly.
The Government's ambition is for every area of England to have, or be part of, a Strategic Authority by 2027, with full coverage in place by the end of 2028.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is planning to take support the WASPI women's campaign for redress, in the context of the pledge of support given by the Prime Minister during his by-election campaign.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 June 2026 to Question UIN 10882.