Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women in South Holland and the Deepings constituency are in receipt of Pension Credit.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 1,698 female recipients of Pension Credit in South Holland and the Deepings. This data is available via: DWP Stat-Xplore.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that a message is included prior to starting the benefits claim process (a) online, (b) in print and (c) by phone to make it clear that (i) free and (ii) independent support is available.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Free help and support in applying for Universal Credit is available from Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. Free help and support for claiming other DWP benefits is widely available, including on GOV.UK, from the Department itself, and from organisations such as Age UK. There is no need for claimants to pay for advice and support with benefit applications.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received funding through an Access to Work grant to purchase hearing aids in the last 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Although the Department holds information on the specific types of support for which Access to Work payments are made, data which would allow payments for ‘hearing aids’ to be identified is not readily available. The data is recorded as descriptive free-text information and extracting it would require manual review of individual records, incurring disproportionate cost.

Statistics on the number of people receiving Access to Work payments by readily available element and support worker categories are published annually in Table PAY02 of the Access to Work official statistics: Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who use Access to Work for the provision of British Sign Language interpretation receive funding for an additional condition to difficulty in hearing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Although the Department collects information on the medical condition(s) of Access to Work customers and the types of support they are awarded and claim payment for, we are unable to link awarded support elements to specific medical conditions without manually examining individual case notes. It would therefore incur a disproportionate cost to identify what support, if any, customers receiving a ‘BSL Interpreter’ have been awarded in relation to medical conditions other than ‘Difficulty in hearing’.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many users of Access to Work received funding for a British Sign Language interpreter in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what was the average cost per person of those awards.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Statistics on the number of people in receipt of payment for Access to Work support and average annual payments per person, by support worker type which includes a category for ‘BSL Interpreter’ are published in tables PAY02 and AVG02 of the Access to Work official statistics: Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025 - GOV.UK. Table 1 summarises these figures:

Table 1. Number of customers in receipt of payment and average annual payment received per customer for ‘BSL Interpreter between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25

Notes

• Numbers of people have been rounded to nearest 10 and average annual payments to nearest £100.
• Real terms expenditure removes the effect of inflation to make year-on-year comparisons more informative, these figures are quoted in 2024/25 prices

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for decisions on Access to Work claims.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We are committed to reducing waiting times in Access to Work so that people can access the support they need. We prioritise applications from customers who are due to start work within the next four weeks, as well as renewals for existing grants, to minimise disruption to employment.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper launched a consultation on the future of Access to Work which has now concluded. Following over 47,500 responses from individuals, charities and other stakeholders, as well as 18 consultation events, we published our summary of the responses to the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation on 30 October 2025.

We are now considering the responses and will bring forward our proposals for reforming Access to Work as soon as we are able to.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how his Department is using data to inform proposals for reform of Access to Work.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. We are considering all aspects of the scheme as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation. In addition, available administrative data and management information will be utilised in shaping any proposals.

We have recently concluded (November) the Access to Work Collaboration Committees, in which we engaged with a range of stakeholders, including DPO representatives and lived experience users, to provide discussion, experience, and challenge to the design of the future Access to Work Scheme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many users of Access to Work who receive funding for British Sign Language interpreters have had their awards expire before their renewal is processed.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We do not hold this information in a way that can be extracted. Identifying such cases would require a manual review of individual awards, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Please find the Official statistics on payments and approvals which are published annually and can be accessed here: Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK

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 impact of Motability tax changes on disabled people’s ability to access work, healthcare and caring responsibilities.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

An Equality Impact Assessment including consideration of the impact on affected individuals was undertaken and published by HMT as part of the Autumn Budget and can be found here: Motability Scheme: reforming tax reliefs - GOV.UK.

The Motability Scheme will continue to offer a choice of vehicles to meet a range of accessibility needs and vehicles which require no advance payment, meaning that people will be able to access a suitable vehicle using only their qualifying disability benefit. Motability Foundation will continue to offer means-tested grants to support eligible people who would otherwise struggle to afford the advance payment or adaptations for a vehicle, or a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) through the Scheme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of levels of pension credit take up by Military veterans.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department for Work and Pensions treats its responsibilities under the Armed Forces Covenant very seriously and through a network of Armed Forces Champions in Jobcentres, for example, provides expert help and support, including help with benefits, to those veterans who need it most.

Information on the levels of Pension Credit take up by Military Veterans is not available.

The latest available Pension Credit take-up statistics cover the financial year 2023 to 2024 and are available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2024 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners living in the Chichester constituency are currently in receipt of Pension Credit.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 2,134 people in receipt of Pension Credit in Chichester.

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 1,437 female recipients of Pension Credit in Chichester.

Using the latest Pension Credit caseload statistics, it is estimated that there were around 400 women born in the 1950s in receipt of Pension Credit in Chichester, as of August 2025.

This data is available via: DWP Stat-Xplore

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women living in the Chichester constituency are currently in receipt of Pension Credit.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 2,134 people in receipt of Pension Credit in Chichester.

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 1,437 female recipients of Pension Credit in Chichester.

Using the latest Pension Credit caseload statistics, it is estimated that there were around 400 women born in the 1950s in receipt of Pension Credit in Chichester, as of August 2025.

This data is available via: DWP Stat-Xplore

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women born in the 1950s living in the Chichester constituency are currently in receipt of Pension Credit.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 2,134 people in receipt of Pension Credit in Chichester.

The latest Pension Credit caseload statistics show that as of August 2025, there were 1,437 female recipients of Pension Credit in Chichester.

Using the latest Pension Credit caseload statistics, it is estimated that there were around 400 women born in the 1950s in receipt of Pension Credit in Chichester, as of August 2025.

This data is available via: DWP Stat-Xplore

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people migrating to Universal Credit who lack digital skills and are unable to complete online requirements, including accepting their claimant commitment.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department recognises that not all people moving to Universal Credit have the confidence or ability to use digital services independently. Universal Credit is designed to be “digital-first”, but not “digital‑-only”,‑ and a range of support is already in place to ensure that claimants who lack digital skills, or who cannot complete online actions such as accepting their Claimant Commitment, are fully supported.

All Jobcentres provide free access to WiFi and computers, alongside Work Coach support, so claimants can get help using online services if they need it. For those who cannot use digital channels at all, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available by telephone, and Work Coaches can accept Claimant Commitments verbally where appropriate. If a claimant is unable to accept their commitments digitally, agents may record verbal consent and accept the commitment on their behalf, ensuring no‑-one‑ is disadvantaged because of low digital capability.

Additional help is available through the Citizens Advice “Help to Claim” service, which provides independent support for people moving to Universal Credit, including navigating digital requirements.

These measures ensure that claimants who lack digital skills continue to receive tailored support throughout their migration journey, and that no-one‑ is prevented from accessing Universal Credit because they cannot complete online actions.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether payments received by a surrogate mother in the UK are treated as income for the purposes of benefits assessments.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Surrogacy payments in the United Kingdom should only be for reasonable expenses. They are not taken into account as income for Universal Credit purposes. If any of the surrogacy payment is unspent in the period it is paid for, then this can be treated as capital if not spent by the end of the next assessment period. The normal capital rules apply to the build-up of unspent income if capital exceeds £6,000.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his department is taking to reduce levels of youth unemployment in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is committed to transform young people’s prospects by ensuring every one of them has the chance to earn and learn through the Youth Guarantee.

On 16^th March, the Government announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, resulting in a total £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres, providing more intensive support to 16-24 year olds.

This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training. It will also help unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities, through a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job. Together these measures demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting employers, partners and young people across Great Britain.

The Department works closely with local partners to ensure support for young people reflects local labour market needs. In Harpenden and Berkhamsted, support is provided in the St Albans Jobcentre, which has specialist work coaches who work with young people claiming Universal Credit.

At a local level, St Albans Jobcentre works closely with local colleges and training providers to commission tailored support programmes for young people, including provision focused on confidence building and mental health support.

The information on geographic youth unemployment figures is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of levels in youth unemployment in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is committed to transform young people’s prospects by ensuring every one of them has the chance to earn and learn through the Youth Guarantee.

On 16^th March, the Government announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, resulting in a total £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres, providing more intensive support to 16-24 year olds.

This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training. It will also help unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities, through a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job. Together these measures demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting employers, partners and young people across Great Britain.

The Department works closely with local partners to ensure support for young people reflects local labour market needs. In Harpenden and Berkhamsted, support is provided in the St Albans Jobcentre, which has specialist work coaches who work with young people claiming Universal Credit.

At a local level, St Albans Jobcentre works closely with local colleges and training providers to commission tailored support programmes for young people, including provision focused on confidence building and mental health support.

The information on geographic youth unemployment figures is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to prioritise Skills Bootcamp funding for areas with demand for engineering and technical skills.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We are giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with our commitment to devolution; supporting areas to use Skills Bootcamps to more closely meet the needs of their local employers and economies.

As part of this, a new funding model for local areas from 2026-27 will ensure the distribution of funding remains fit for purpose and sustainable as the programme matures.

Under devolution, local areas are the commissioners of Skills Bootcamps and can plan provision according to local skills priorities. They are responsible for decisions relating to the allocation of funding to individual providers in line with their preferred commissioning method.

We will continue to work with local areas on the implementation of the new funding methodology.

The latest published data on Skills Bootcamps completions and outcomes by sector is available here Evaluation of Skills Bootcamps - 2022 to 2023 (Wave 3) completions and outcomes report.

The department does not publish estimates of Skills Bootcamps starts.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), an arm’s length body of the Department for Work and Pensions, is also supporting training and skills development for the Hinkley Point C projects. This includes investing in training programmes to support young and adult learners into employment with EDF and its supply chain, such as the ECITB scholarship which is providing training to 16-18 years olds in welding and pipefitting.

The ECITB is also supporting the Hinkley Support Operative Bronze Programme (HSO). By the end of 2026, ECITB’s support for the HSO programme over the past three years is projected to total more than £1.25 million, enabling more than 1100 learners to complete the course.

The ECITB has invested in £460,000 in state-of-the-art training rigs and £300,000 to support the capital costs of Centres of Excellence for mechanical and electrical training in the Somerset area.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of increasing incentive grants to offset higher employer contributions under the revised apprenticeship funding rules.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

As we introduce new products, such as apprenticeship units and foundation apprenticeships, we are also simplifying the Growth and Skills Levy, improving its transparency and making it more efficient.

From August, we are changing the employer’s co-investment rate from 5% to 25% for levy-paying employers once they have exhausted all their levy funds. Levy-paying employers will still be able to benefit from a very generous 75% government contribution once their funds are exhausted, but it is right that employers who utilise all their levy funds contribute more to apprenticeship training and assessment. This will support greater employer investment in skills overall and ensure funding is available to roll out further flexibility for business and increase opportunities for young people.

We have undertaken extensive engagement with businesses and other key stakeholders in the design of these reforms and will continue to work closely with key partners as we develop the detail of any planned changes

To support employers of all sizes to take on apprentices the government pays £1,000 to both employers and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care. On top of this, employers will receive additional payments of up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships. Additionally, employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).

The government is also supporting non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) meet the additional costs of taking on young people by introducing a new £2,000 incentive payment when they hire apprentices under the aged of 25 as new employees.

We will carefully monitor the impact of these changes once they take effect.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has consulted levy-paying employers on the potential impact of the revised co-investment rates on future apprenticeship recruitment decisions.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

As we introduce new products, such as apprenticeship units and foundation apprenticeships, we are also simplifying the Growth and Skills Levy, improving its transparency and making it more efficient.

From August, we are changing the employer’s co-investment rate from 5% to 25% for levy-paying employers once they have exhausted all their levy funds. Levy-paying employers will still be able to benefit from a very generous 75% government contribution once their funds are exhausted, but it is right that employers who utilise all their levy funds contribute more to apprenticeship training and assessment. This will support greater employer investment in skills overall and ensure funding is available to roll out further flexibility for business and increase opportunities for young people.

We have undertaken extensive engagement with businesses and other key stakeholders in the design of these reforms and will continue to work closely with key partners as we develop the detail of any planned changes

To support employers of all sizes to take on apprentices the government pays £1,000 to both employers and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care. On top of this, employers will receive additional payments of up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships. Additionally, employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).

The government is also supporting non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) meet the additional costs of taking on young people by introducing a new £2,000 incentive payment when they hire apprentices under the aged of 25 as new employees.

We will carefully monitor the impact of these changes once they take effect.

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 role of Skills Bootcamps in enabling workers from construction trades to retrain into mechanical, electrical and HVAC roles.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We are giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with our commitment to devolution; supporting areas to use Skills Bootcamps to more closely meet the needs of their local employers and economies.

As part of this, a new funding model for local areas from 2026-27 will ensure the distribution of funding remains fit for purpose and sustainable as the programme matures.

Under devolution, local areas are the commissioners of Skills Bootcamps and can plan provision according to local skills priorities. They are responsible for decisions relating to the allocation of funding to individual providers in line with their preferred commissioning method.

We will continue to work with local areas on the implementation of the new funding methodology.

The latest published data on Skills Bootcamps completions and outcomes by sector is available here Evaluation of Skills Bootcamps - 2022 to 2023 (Wave 3) completions and outcomes report.

The department does not publish estimates of Skills Bootcamps starts.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), an arm’s length body of the Department for Work and Pensions, is also supporting training and skills development for the Hinkley Point C projects. This includes investing in training programmes to support young and adult learners into employment with EDF and its supply chain, such as the ECITB scholarship which is providing training to 16-18 years olds in welding and pipefitting.

The ECITB is also supporting the Hinkley Support Operative Bronze Programme (HSO). By the end of 2026, ECITB’s support for the HSO programme over the past three years is projected to total more than £1.25 million, enabling more than 1100 learners to complete the course.

The ECITB has invested in £460,000 in state-of-the-art training rigs and £300,000 to support the capital costs of Centres of Excellence for mechanical and electrical training in the Somerset area.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people expected to enrol in Skills Bootcamps in Somerset in 2025–26.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We are giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with our commitment to devolution; supporting areas to use Skills Bootcamps to more closely meet the needs of their local employers and economies.

As part of this, a new funding model for local areas from 2026-27 will ensure the distribution of funding remains fit for purpose and sustainable as the programme matures.

Under devolution, local areas are the commissioners of Skills Bootcamps and can plan provision according to local skills priorities. They are responsible for decisions relating to the allocation of funding to individual providers in line with their preferred commissioning method.

We will continue to work with local areas on the implementation of the new funding methodology.

The latest published data on Skills Bootcamps completions and outcomes by sector is available here Evaluation of Skills Bootcamps - 2022 to 2023 (Wave 3) completions and outcomes report.

The department does not publish estimates of Skills Bootcamps starts.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), an arm’s length body of the Department for Work and Pensions, is also supporting training and skills development for the Hinkley Point C projects. This includes investing in training programmes to support young and adult learners into employment with EDF and its supply chain, such as the ECITB scholarship which is providing training to 16-18 years olds in welding and pipefitting.

The ECITB is also supporting the Hinkley Support Operative Bronze Programme (HSO). By the end of 2026, ECITB’s support for the HSO programme over the past three years is projected to total more than £1.25 million, enabling more than 1100 learners to complete the course.

The ECITB has invested in £460,000 in state-of-the-art training rigs and £300,000 to support the capital costs of Centres of Excellence for mechanical and electrical training in the Somerset area.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on progression from Skills Bootcamps into employment in the (a) nuclear and (b) energy sectors.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We are giving local areas greater control of the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in line with our commitment to devolution; supporting areas to use Skills Bootcamps to more closely meet the needs of their local employers and economies.

As part of this, a new funding model for local areas from 2026-27 will ensure the distribution of funding remains fit for purpose and sustainable as the programme matures.

Under devolution, local areas are the commissioners of Skills Bootcamps and can plan provision according to local skills priorities. They are responsible for decisions relating to the allocation of funding to individual providers in line with their preferred commissioning method.

We will continue to work with local areas on the implementation of the new funding methodology.

The latest published data on Skills Bootcamps completions and outcomes by sector is available here Evaluation of Skills Bootcamps - 2022 to 2023 (Wave 3) completions and outcomes report.

The department does not publish estimates of Skills Bootcamps starts.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), an arm’s length body of the Department for Work and Pensions, is also supporting training and skills development for the Hinkley Point C projects. This includes investing in training programmes to support young and adult learners into employment with EDF and its supply chain, such as the ECITB scholarship which is providing training to 16-18 years olds in welding and pipefitting.

The ECITB is also supporting the Hinkley Support Operative Bronze Programme (HSO). By the end of 2026, ECITB’s support for the HSO programme over the past three years is projected to total more than £1.25 million, enabling more than 1100 learners to complete the course.

The ECITB has invested in £460,000 in state-of-the-art training rigs and £300,000 to support the capital costs of Centres of Excellence for mechanical and electrical training in the Somerset area.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will publish the Strategic Plan for the DWP Estate, and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department’s Strategic Plan for the DWP Estate is publicly available. It was most recently updated in December 2025. I would direct my Right Honourable Friend, the Member for Hayes and Harlington, to the publication on GOV.UK: Department for Work and Pensions Strategic Asset Management Plan - Executive Summary - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the average time taken to complete a mandatory reconsideration for a Disability Living Allowance for Children.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The average clearance time for January 2026 was 119.6 working days for Disability Living Allowance for Children. We are committed to reducing the outstanding Mandatory Reconsiderations and also the average clearance time with the redeployment of approximately 60 FTE and continued use of overtime, aiming to restore normal service levels by Quarter 3 of 2026/27.

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 potential merits of providing additional funding for leadership and management apprenticeships in Yeovil constituency.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy. This will deliver greater flexibility to employers, more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy across the country, including in the Yeovil constituency.

Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24 fall by 40%. This Government wants to reverse that decline and support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships.

We are therefore reviewing the existing apprenticeship offer, which has grown to more than 700 standards, an outlier by international standards, to ensure it better supports young people starting their careers.

From September 2026, we will withdraw funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards. Three of these are generic leadership and management apprenticeships, which have grown significantly but are predominantly used as continuing professional development for established staff aged 25 and over. Nearly 90% of apprentices on these leadership and management standards were over 25 (compared to 50% across the programme as a whole); and 83% were long-term employees (compared to 43% across the programme as whole – which is a 10-year high).

These changes will create headroom to invest in opportunities for young people and new apprenticeship units and ensure more of our finite investment is targeted on national skills priorities.

Employers who value these apprenticeship standards can continue to use them on a privately funded basis.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress he has made on consulting on reform to the calculation of Child maintenance.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We will announce further details in due course.

Given the significant amount of time since the child maintenance calculation was updated, we need to assess carefully the impact of any proposed changes on all parents that use the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to ensure they effectively support families and children and that they are introduced in a way which works well for CMS customers.

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 potential impact of changes to Skills Bootcamp funding on the ability of the scheme to adapt to market and employer needs in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2026 to Question UIN 113868.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the office attendance requirement for staff on hybrid working.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Members of the Senior Civil Service (SCS) must spend more than 60% of their contracted hours in the office over each four-week period. For colleagues outside the SCS, the minimum office requirement is 60% of contracted hours over each four-week period. DWP’s customer-facing employees (e.g. in job centres) are office-based and must attend for 100%.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the availability of (a) apprenticeships and (b) training courses in the electronic device repair industry.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Level 3 Digital Device Repair Technician apprenticeship standard is available to support the electronic device repair industry, and other occupational standards are available to facilitate engineering and manufacturing skills more widely.

To improve the availability of apprenticeships, from the next academic year, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training costs for eligible people aged under 25 at non-levy paying employers. The department currently pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21 at non-levy paying employers and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care.

From October 2026, non-levy paying employers will also receive a £2,000 incentive payment when they take on, as new employees, apprentices under the aged of 25, to help them meet the additional costs of supporting a young person at the beginning of their career.

This is in addition to the £1,000 that the Government already pays to both employers (of all sizes) and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in local authority care. On top of this, employers will receive additional payments of up to £2,000 for foundation apprenticeships and employers are not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Access to Work enables Disabled people to remain in employment.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. We are considering all aspects of the scheme as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation. In addition, available administrative data and management information will be utilised in shaping any proposals.

We have recently concluded (November) the Access to Work Collaboration Committees, in which we engaged with a range of stakeholders, including DPO representatives and lived experience users, to provide discussion, experience, and challenge to the design of the future Access to Work Scheme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March to Question 115912 on Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services, how many claimants have been put into housing arrears as a result of being migrated from ESA to Universal Credit.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not hold the requested data. When someone transitions from Housing Benefit their first payment of Universal Credit will be made 5 weeks later. To help bridge this gap, an additional payment of two week’s Housing Benefit is made, resulting in a customer receiving two weeks more Housing Benefit than if they had not moved. The Department is committed to supporting customers moving from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit and aims to make this transition as smooth as possible. To help achieve this, Transitional Protection has been designed to prevent customers from experiencing a cliff-edge in their benefit entitlement and is applied to customers who would otherwise have a lower entitlement on Universal Credit than they previously received on their legacy benefits.

Found: We consulted the DWP Library and Leeds City Library, as sources which have previously held information

Found: The HSE and BSR (and by extension DWP) would be involved in supporting the implementation and enforcement

Found: issues, for instance the joint Combating Drugs Unit (HO / DHSC / MHCLG) or the Health and Work unit (DWP

Found: (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), data analytics to tackle fraud are less developed

Found: We work collaboratively with the Careers Wales’ Working Wales Service and link with Department for Work and Pensions

Found: I met with the permanent secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions, and with the director general

Found: Officials from my department, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: the Cabinet Office shared lessons learned from the pensions implementation with DWP

Found: efficiency installations HC 1229 61st Financial sustainability of children’s care homes HC 1233 60th DWP

Found: The DWP acknowledges that maladministration happened, but Paula, you in particular have expressed what

Found: In addition, the sector is able to access DWP and Local Authority data under the provisions provided

Found: My one thing is that the Government have to continually say that it is important, and then DfE and DWP

Found: The other category you would have for late accounts is the long-standing qualification—DWP and HMRC

Found: Employment Councils to bring businesses together with probation and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP

Found: Employers and even DWP staff are often unfamiliar with the process of checking an applicant's right to

Found: To estimate them, we use the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Registration and Population Interactions

Found: . ** This figure includes days funded from both Ministry of Justice and Department for Work and Pensions

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial sustainability of the workforce in the United Kingdom’s film and television production sector.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK’s creative industries generated £145.8 billion in GVA in 2024 — 5.6% of the economy — with film, TV, radio and photography contributing £23.5 billion. The sector’s growth and global strengths position the UK to lead in film and television production. To realise that ambition, we need a skilled and sustainable workforce. That is why our Sector Plan designates film, TV and video games as a frontier industry, signalling their priority status for future investment and support.

From April 2026, a £75 million Screen Growth Package will support independent UK content, attract inward investment and expand skills development, creating more jobs and greater long‑term stability across the sector. The Sector Plan also boosts access to finance through the British Business Bank, expanded debt and equity options, and tailored support for producers.

We are raising standards across the sector by acting on the Good Work Review, establishing the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority and supporting the BFI’s £1.5 million WorkWise for Screen programme. Freelancers will have a stronger voice through a new Creative Freelance Champion, while the Employment Rights Act 2025 will tackle late payments, guarantee written contracts and extend health and safety protections.

We are also strengthening the skills and talent pipeline through major investment: expanding the National Film and Television School, scaling up the BFI Film Academy and delivering £725 million through the next phase of the Growth and Skills Levy, including fully funded SME apprenticeships for eligible under‑25s. From April 2026, new short courses in digital, AI and engineering will support Industrial Strategy sectors, complemented by work with DWP and Skills England to ensure training genuinely reflects the needs of creative employers.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled A National Plan to End Homelessness, published on 11 December 2025, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of adding homelessness prevention targets for (a) the Home Office (b) the Department for Work and Pensions.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Plan to End Homelessness announces a long-term ambition that no one should leave a public institution into homelessness. This parliament we will take the first steps towards this through joint cross-government targets to reduce the number of people leaving institutions into homelessness.

The Home Office have committed to strengthen data sharing processes with councils for 100% of newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness within two days of an asylum discontinuation of support notification. This supports early intervention by enabling councils to commence homelessness assessments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Department for Work and Pension and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government about data sharing to offer targeted support for vulnerable households with heating oil.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a number of issues.

DESNZ officials worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and His Majesty’s Treasury ahead of the recent announcement of £50m for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding will be available to the Northern Ireland Executive, Wales, and Scotland.

In England, funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April.

In addition, DESNZ is working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library (NDL) energy bill support ‘kickstarter’ project to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes.

The Kickstarter project will pave the way for better targeted help, ensuring those who are struggling to pay their bills get the support they need

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to announce transitional arrangements for people who are awaiting the outcome of an asylum claim submitted before 2 March 2026.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years.

Outstanding applications will continue to be considered under the family reunion rules in place prior to the commencement of the suspension, including those that are at appeal.

During the suspension, the Government is taking forward wider asylum and family reforms to place the system on a fairer, controlled and sustainable footing. Further information on forthcoming changes will be set out in due course. In the meantime, other family routes remain available, including Appendix FM.

Those who claimed asylum or made further submissions before 2 March 2026, and who are eligible for protection, will receive 5 years’ permission to stay in accordance with the transitional arrangements included in the Immigration Rules laid on 5 March 2026.

We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into a new, bespoke work and study route to access family reunion and settlement rights with new fees and conditions in accordance with the rules of that route.

Refugees granted refugee status or humanitarian protection (as well as those arriving under one of the UK’s resettlement schemes) have immediate access to the labour market and benefits, including employment support from Department for Work and Pensions work coaches. Unemployed refugees are eligible for full funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages learning.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how refugees on the core protection route will be supported to transition on to work and study visas.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years.

Outstanding applications will continue to be considered under the family reunion rules in place prior to the commencement of the suspension, including those that are at appeal.

During the suspension, the Government is taking forward wider asylum and family reforms to place the system on a fairer, controlled and sustainable footing. Further information on forthcoming changes will be set out in due course. In the meantime, other family routes remain available, including Appendix FM.

Those who claimed asylum or made further submissions before 2 March 2026, and who are eligible for protection, will receive 5 years’ permission to stay in accordance with the transitional arrangements included in the Immigration Rules laid on 5 March 2026.

We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into a new, bespoke work and study route to access family reunion and settlement rights with new fees and conditions in accordance with the rules of that route.

Refugees granted refugee status or humanitarian protection (as well as those arriving under one of the UK’s resettlement schemes) have immediate access to the labour market and benefits, including employment support from Department for Work and Pensions work coaches. Unemployed refugees are eligible for full funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages learning.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to resume refugee family reunion.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years.

Outstanding applications will continue to be considered under the family reunion rules in place prior to the commencement of the suspension, including those that are at appeal.

During the suspension, the Government is taking forward wider asylum and family reforms to place the system on a fairer, controlled and sustainable footing. Further information on forthcoming changes will be set out in due course. In the meantime, other family routes remain available, including Appendix FM.

Those who claimed asylum or made further submissions before 2 March 2026, and who are eligible for protection, will receive 5 years’ permission to stay in accordance with the transitional arrangements included in the Immigration Rules laid on 5 March 2026.

We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into a new, bespoke work and study route to access family reunion and settlement rights with new fees and conditions in accordance with the rules of that route.

Refugees granted refugee status or humanitarian protection (as well as those arriving under one of the UK’s resettlement schemes) have immediate access to the labour market and benefits, including employment support from Department for Work and Pensions work coaches. Unemployed refugees are eligible for full funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages learning.

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Found: An evidence review conducted by the Department for Work and Pensions (2024, pp. 64-65) also concluded

Found: process a case directly, specifically ‘the introduction of no-fault divorce’ and the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: household surveys systematically under-report receipt of benefits.Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP

Found: Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP working paper “State Benefits on the Family Resources Survey

Found: The equivalisation factors used for income calculations are the same as in the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: household surveys systematically under-report receipt of benefits.Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP

Found: Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP working paper “State Benefits on the Family Resources Survey

Found: Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP working paper “State Benefits on the Family Resources Survey

Found: Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP working paper “State Benefits on the Family Resources Survey

Found: Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP working paper “State Benefits on the Family Resources Survey

Found: Some reasons for this are explored in the DWP working paper “State Benefits on the Family Resources Survey

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Found: Financial support In a pandemic, DHSC, HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: England in 2024-25, representing a 0.5% decrease from 2023-24.6 Marital status 3 Department for Work and Pensions

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Found: (e) To evidence a pension: (i) Official documentation from: (1) The Department for Work and Pensions

Found: 3rd Floor, Suite 6c, 5-7 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1JB Equitix 1 279 HSL Buxton PFI Department for Work and Pensions

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Found: 114.00 Andrew Pemberton 2025-11-11 2025-11-12 HMRC Remembrance Day Service, HMRC and DWP

Found: In February 2023 assurance reviews were conducted by the DWP and the IPA, and in March 2023 the DWP

Found: It is an arm’s-length executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the DWP.

Found: The Money and Pensions Service is an independent organisation funded by the Department for Work and Pensions

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Found: at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Department for Work and Pensions

Found: of the committee’s scrutiny of the social security regulations presented to it by the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: dataset, published annually by the Department for Education, links graduate records with HMRC and DWP

Found: • DSIT will continue to work closely with the Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions

Found: (DWP) (UK- wide), working alongside Welsh Government employability and skills provision

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Found: for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership: Memorandum of Understanding between the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: We continue to work DVLA, DVSA, DWP, training providers and industry to ensure the highest possible

Found: delivering new concessions may require extending data sharing arrangements with the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: deduction for benefits received by the claimant during the claim period 138 (and the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: Registered Social Landlords, University Health Board, Citizens Advice, Interlink RCT, Third Sector, DWP

Found: partnership with local authorities, charities, and support organisations, including the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: between 2015 and 2025 as more claimants switched to universal credit, according to Department for Work and Pensions

Found: theHouseholds Below Average Income (HBAI) report published by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP

Found: Introduction Data on persistent poverty in Wales comes from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and

Found: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) The DWP is the UK government department responsible for welfare

Found: Further funding from agreed new employment programmes being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions

Found: Memorandum of Understanding between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Government on

Found: [Note 1] Source: DWP, Family Resources Survey: financial year 2023 to 2024, disability table 4.5b.

Found: (DWP) The DWP is the UK government department responsible for welfare, pensions, and

Found: Purpose 2.1 On 27 March 2025, the DWP and the WMs signed an agreement for the provision of up to £10