Department for Work and Pensions

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 March 2026 to Question UIN 117831.

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010, which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

Compliance with CRaGA is overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission, which publishes Recruitment Principles setting out the detailed rules departments must follow.

For departments who use Civil Service Jobs to manage their recruitment, applicants are asked to provide diversity data on a voluntary basis only and no details are shared with hiring managers.

The positive action measures in the Equality Act 2010 allows employers to take proportionate action that aims to reduce disadvantage, meet different needs and increase participation. More information on this can be found on gov.uk.

Employers who choose to use positive action can help people who share a particular protected characteristic to overcome certain barriers under the measures. However, employers need to ensure they do this in a way which does not unfairly disadvantage other groups as this could amount to ‘positive discrimination’, which is unlawful.

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments with a higher amount paid for those with children. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits under review.

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments with a higher amount paid for those with children. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits under review.

The impacts of policies contributing to the Child Poverty Strategy will be kept under review and monitored on an ongoing basis by departments using their own established approaches to considerations made under the Public Sector Equality Duty. The ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Child Poverty Strategy will also continue to assess the poverty risk and prevalence for groups with protected characteristics, as far as the data and evidence gathering allow.

A full summary equalities analysis was published alongside the Child Poverty Strategy and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-summary-equalities-analysis

We are also taking specific steps to support children with additional needs. We have committed to provide funding for all local authorities to deliver Best Start Family Hubs and are investing over £200 million over three years to strengthen the SEND offer in Best Start Family Hubs, including funding a family-facing practitioner in every hub to support children with additional needs and families from the earliest stages.

Our new SEND system will deliver a fully inclusive mainstream education, supported by £4bn investment. Children with special educational needs will access targeted and specialist support through a clear three-tier framework, with Individual Support Plans and stronger Education Health and Care Plans for complex needs. We will work with the sector and prioritise early intervention and cross-service collaboration to ensure better outcomes nationwide

The Strategy also includes measures to improve the experiences and health and education outcomes of children in temporary accommodation, including disabled children. This includes improving the quality and suitability of placements, £10.9 million in 2025/26 for 61 local authorities to increase access to support and services, and a new notification system so housing authorities can alert schools, health visitors and GPs when a child enters temporary accommodation, enabling timely support and reducing harmful impacts.

The publication of the strategy was just the first step on our journey to drive down child poverty over the next decade and beyond. We have always been clear that this will be a long-term strategy, and we will continue to consider families with disabled children.

The impacts of policies contributing to the Child Poverty Strategy will be kept under review and monitored on an ongoing basis by departments using their own established approaches to considerations made under the Public Sector Equality Duty. The ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Child Poverty Strategy will also continue to assess the poverty risk and prevalence for groups with protected characteristics, as far as the data and evidence gathering allow.

A full summary equalities analysis was published alongside the Child Poverty Strategy and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-summary-equalities-analysis

We are also taking specific steps to support children with additional needs. We have committed to provide funding for all local authorities to deliver Best Start Family Hubs and are investing over £200 million over three years to strengthen the SEND offer in Best Start Family Hubs, including funding a family-facing practitioner in every hub to support children with additional needs and families from the earliest stages.

Our new SEND system will deliver a fully inclusive mainstream education, supported by £4bn investment. Children with special educational needs will access targeted and specialist support through a clear three-tier framework, with Individual Support Plans and stronger Education Health and Care Plans for complex needs. We will work with the sector and prioritise early intervention and cross-service collaboration to ensure better outcomes nationwide

The Strategy also includes measures to improve the experiences and health and education outcomes of children in temporary accommodation, including disabled children. This includes improving the quality and suitability of placements, £10.9 million in 2025/26 for 61 local authorities to increase access to support and services, and a new notification system so housing authorities can alert schools, health visitors and GPs when a child enters temporary accommodation, enabling timely support and reducing harmful impacts.

The publication of the strategy was just the first step on our journey to drive down child poverty over the next decade and beyond. We have always been clear that this will be a long-term strategy, and we will continue to consider families with disabled children.

The impacts of policies contributing to the Child Poverty Strategy will be kept under review and monitored on an ongoing basis by departments using their own established approaches to considerations made under the Public Sector Equality Duty. The ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Child Poverty Strategy will also continue to assess the poverty risk and prevalence for groups with protected characteristics, as far as the data and evidence gathering allow.

A full summary equalities analysis was published alongside the Child Poverty Strategy and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-poverty-strategy-summary-equalities-analysis

We are also taking specific steps to support children with additional needs. We have committed to provide funding for all local authorities to deliver Best Start Family Hubs and are investing over £200 million over three years to strengthen the SEND offer in Best Start Family Hubs, including funding a family-facing practitioner in every hub to support children with additional needs and families from the earliest stages.

Our new SEND system will deliver a fully inclusive mainstream education, supported by £4bn investment. Children with special educational needs will access targeted and specialist support through a clear three-tier framework, with Individual Support Plans and stronger Education Health and Care Plans for complex needs. We will work with the sector and prioritise early intervention and cross-service collaboration to ensure better outcomes nationwide

The Strategy also includes measures to improve the experiences and health and education outcomes of children in temporary accommodation, including disabled children. This includes improving the quality and suitability of placements, £10.9 million in 2025/26 for 61 local authorities to increase access to support and services, and a new notification system so housing authorities can alert schools, health visitors and GPs when a child enters temporary accommodation, enabling timely support and reducing harmful impacts.

The publication of the strategy was just the first step on our journey to drive down child poverty over the next decade and beyond. We have always been clear that this will be a long-term strategy, and we will continue to consider families with disabled children.

Through the next phase of Keep Britain Working we will work with businesses of all sizes to design solutions which support the health and wellbeing of employees across the UK. Through employer-led sprints, we are developing a Healthy Working Lifecycle Standard, tailored workplace health support, and stronger evidence on the business benefits of investing in employee wellbeing.

Our Vanguard group includes over 120 employers of varying sizes to ensure the approaches developed reflect the needs and realities of both large employers and SMEs. We are also working closely with regional authorities and leadership to connect the programme to smaller employers across the country.

During the Keep Britain Working review, we heard that employers are already bearing the cost of sickness absence and employees leaving the workforce and are therefore highly incentivised to support the health and wellbeing of their employees. Through the next phase of Keep Britain Working we will grow the evidence for what works and where additional incentives could have the greatest impact, ensuring that support is targeted in ways that encourage employers to take-up effective workplace health measures.

The Monitoring and Evaluation framework published alongside the Strategy sets out how we will hold ourselves to account on delivering the impact we have promised through this Parliament and beyond as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and continued learning.

We are continuing our work across government, with devolved governments, local authorities, stakeholders and experts as part of the long-term evaluation.

Further details on our approach to monitoring and evaluation will follow in the baseline report in Summer this year, which will also set out the latest statistics and evidence. We will report on an annual basis thereafter to monitor and evaluate progress.

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

Bereavement Support Payment aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits under review.

Please see link to published Average Working Days Lost figures: Civil Service sickness absence, 2025: report - GOV.UK.

Cabinet Office guidance which was issued by the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, is that government offices should not hold away days in non-government buildings and DWP complies with this guidance.

Government-branded merchandise and away days banned - GOV.UK

Our Child Poverty Strategy fulfils our commitment to reducing poverty this Parliament, lifting 550,000 children out of poverty, and sets out our ambition to tackle its structural drivers as part of a long-term, 10-year strategy. This Government has taken decisive action, with the interventions in the Strategy set to lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Child Poverty Strategy: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework - GOV.UK), published alongside the Strategy, sets out our plans and further details on our approach will follow in a baseline report this Summer. We will continue to have a dedicated team in government that, with Ministerial oversight, will work across government, the public and private sectors and civil society to maintain focus on tackling child poverty and build on the Strategy.

Government already has a statutory duty to publish poverty statistics annually and we also hold ourselves to account on our progress through the monitoring and evaluation arrangements we have put in place, from this year and in future years, so that the progress we make is transparent for all. Deep material poverty estimates based on two-year averages will be published for each of the UK nations in the March 2026 HBAI publication.

Our Child Poverty Strategy fulfils our commitment to reducing poverty this Parliament, lifting 550,000 children out of poverty, and sets out our ambition to tackle its structural drivers as part of a long-term, 10-year strategy. This Government has taken decisive action, with the interventions in the Strategy set to lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Child Poverty Strategy: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework - GOV.UK), published alongside the Strategy, sets out our plans and further details on our approach will follow in a baseline report this Summer. We will continue to have a dedicated team in government that, with Ministerial oversight, will work across government, the public and private sectors and civil society to maintain focus on tackling child poverty and build on the Strategy.

Government already has a statutory duty to publish poverty statistics annually and we also hold ourselves to account on our progress through the monitoring and evaluation arrangements we have put in place, from this year and in future years, so that the progress we make is transparent for all. Deep material poverty estimates based on two-year averages will be published for each of the UK nations in the March 2026 HBAI publication.

Our Child Poverty Strategy fulfils our commitment to reducing poverty this Parliament, lifting 550,000 children out of poverty, and sets out our ambition to tackle its structural drivers as part of a long-term, 10-year strategy. This Government has taken decisive action, with the interventions in the Strategy set to lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Child Poverty Strategy: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework - GOV.UK), published alongside the Strategy, sets out our plans and further details on our approach will follow in a baseline report this Summer. We will continue to have a dedicated team in government that, with Ministerial oversight, will work across government, the public and private sectors and civil society to maintain focus on tackling child poverty and build on the Strategy.

Government already has a statutory duty to publish poverty statistics annually and we also hold ourselves to account on our progress through the monitoring and evaluation arrangements we have put in place, from this year and in future years, so that the progress we make is transparent for all. Deep material poverty estimates based on two-year averages will be published for each of the UK nations in the March 2026 HBAI publication.

Our Child Poverty Strategy fulfils our commitment to reducing poverty this Parliament, lifting 550,000 children out of poverty, and sets out our ambition to tackle its structural drivers as part of a long-term, 10-year strategy. This Government has taken decisive action, with the interventions in the Strategy set to lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Child Poverty Strategy: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework - GOV.UK), published alongside the Strategy, sets out our plans and further details on our approach will follow in a baseline report this Summer. We will continue to have a dedicated team in government that, with Ministerial oversight, will work across government, the public and private sectors and civil society to maintain focus on tackling child poverty and build on the Strategy.

Government already has a statutory duty to publish poverty statistics annually and we also hold ourselves to account on our progress through the monitoring and evaluation arrangements we have put in place, from this year and in future years, so that the progress we make is transparent for all. Deep material poverty estimates based on two-year averages will be published for each of the UK nations in the March 2026 HBAI publication.

Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.

Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.

Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.

The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available

Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.

People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.

The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.

No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.

The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.

We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.

This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.

In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:

• Reforming Jobcentre Plus into a Jobs and Careers Service which is more focused on skills and career progression than benefits and compliance, responsive to the needs and challenges of local labour markets and aligned with the needs of employers.
• Tackling economic inactivity due to ill health through joined up work, health and skills support and the Pathways to Work guarantee of tailored support for those with health conditions who claim out of work benefits.
• Delivering a Youth Guarantee so that all young people have access to education, training or help to find a job or apprenticeship.

Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.

Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.

Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.

The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available

Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.

People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.

The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.

No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.

The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.

We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.

This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.

In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:

• Reforming Jobcentre Plus into a Jobs and Careers Service which is more focused on skills and career progression than benefits and compliance, responsive to the needs and challenges of local labour markets and aligned with the needs of employers.
• Tackling economic inactivity due to ill health through joined up work, health and skills support and the Pathways to Work guarantee of tailored support for those with health conditions who claim out of work benefits.
• Delivering a Youth Guarantee so that all young people have access to education, training or help to find a job or apprenticeship.

Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.

Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.

Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.

The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available

Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.

People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.

The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.

No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.

The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.

We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.

This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.

In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:

• Reforming Jobcentre Plus into a Jobs and Careers Service which is more focused on skills and career progression than benefits and compliance, responsive to the needs and challenges of local labour markets and aligned with the needs of employers.
• Tackling economic inactivity due to ill health through joined up work, health and skills support and the Pathways to Work guarantee of tailored support for those with health conditions who claim out of work benefits.
• Delivering a Youth Guarantee so that all young people have access to education, training or help to find a job or apprenticeship.

To improve consistency, we have introduced training focused on embedding the Access to Work scheme’s principles more clearly. This includes a stronger emphasis on employers’ responsibilities under the Equality Act, ensuring support is awarded in a fair and balanced way.

We have also increased the number of staff working in Access to Work by c.29% and streamlined some processes to improve the service.

We are committed to improving the service and will utilise the outcomes of the Green Paper consultation, the Collaboration Committees, and upcoming work of the Independent Disability Advisory Panel to inform the future direction of Access to Work. Once established we will consider timelines and work closely with stakeholders to ensure an appropriate transition. We continue to review our operational practices and resources, to drive improvements across the service to reduce processing times and the overall experience of our customers.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Although the Department holds information on the mental health conditions of Access to Work customers and the specific types of support they receive, information on specific mental health conditions and how much has been spent on mental health support is not readily accessible. The required information is recorded as descriptive free-text information and extracting it would require manual review of individual records.

While we cannot provide total expenditure on mental health support, the Access to Work official statistics do report expenditure for customers whose primary medical condition is a mental health condition, as well as for the Mental Health Support Service, as seen in the table below.

A range of poverty measures are included in the annual Households Below Average Income Statistics including Relative Low Income (After Housing Costs) and Material Deprivation. Relative Low Income involves setting a threshold based on 60% of net household income after deducing taxes and housing costs. It does not take account of any additional costs incurred due to disability. Material Deprivation involves asking families whether they can afford a set of essential items so the impact of any additional costs due to disability could impact on a family’s ability to afford these items so Material Deprivation metric does take account of these costs.

The extra costs disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), provide a contribution towards the extra costs (which includes equipment, care, transport and housing), that may arise from a long-term disability or health condition.

The information requested is not held centrally and extracting this information would require manual examination of individual records and exceed the cost limit.

The Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 makes amendments to assimilated law for three areas of chemical regulation: GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemical Substances and Mixtures Regulation (GB CLP); and the Export and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Regulation (GB PIC). The changes being made are set out in the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) response to its consultation that ran between 23 June 2025 and 18 August 2025. HSE is committed to minimising divergence with the EU across all regimes.

GB BPR is now included in the negotiations between UK and the EU on a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. Until the agreement is concluded, the changes to GB BPR made by this instrument are necessary to resolve critical issues in the GB biocides regime which could otherwise lead to a large group of biocidal products and active substances being removed from the GB market. The implications for GB BPR will be further analysed when the final shape of the Agreement is known.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, 90 awards were made to claimants in Wales under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.

In 2024/25 there were 2,300 awards to sufferers under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979. The breakdown by medical condition is:

*Totals may not sum due to rounding.

No one should be refused access to businesses, services or public spaces because they legitimately have an assistance dog.

Strong protection already exists in the Equality Act 2010, which places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.

This could include allowing the use of assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on this subject. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.

No one should be refused access to businesses, services or public spaces because they legitimately have an assistance dog.

Strong protection already exists in the Equality Act 2010, which places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.

This could include allowing the use of assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on this subject. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.

No one should be refused access to businesses, services or public spaces because they legitimately have an assistance dog.

Strong protection already exists in the Equality Act 2010, which places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.

This could include allowing the use of assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on this subject. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.

The Department does not collect such data as the programme only supports people in, or about to start, employment.

DVSA identified priority locations that had 5 or more live vacancies and provided the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a list. Following their external recruitment drive in January 2026, DVSA advised DWP that some of the locations initially identified were no longer considered high priority due to roles being filled. From the remaining sites on the list those chosen were where DVSA have managers with the flexibility to carry out assessments as part of the Driving Examiner recruitment pilot.

Great Britain has a well-established regulatory framework under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH) that requires employers to control exposure to substances that can cause ill health, such as respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Under this framework the risk of exposure to RCS can be properly managed using recognised control measures meeting well established standards. This framework also requires the effectiveness of controls to be maintained and workers trained to use such controls. Employers must also ensure that employees who are, or are liable to be, exposed to RCS are under suitable health surveillance.

The current workplace exposure limit (WEL) for RCS has been in place in Great Britain since 1st October 2006. It provides a long-term exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3. In 2020, the EU adopted the same limit as Great Britain. COSHH also requires that, regardless of any limit set for RCS, dutyholders must continuously strive to control exposure in line with the principles of good practice, as defined in Schedule 2A of the regulations. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no plans to review the WEL for RCS.

HSE is taking a multi-phase approach to address the risk of silicosis from working with engineered stone. This includes inspection and enforcement activity combined with targeted research, the publication of guidance, and engagement with suppliers, trade associations, and other representative bodies. HSE inspectors make proportionate enforcement decisions that can include provision of advice, service of enforcement notices and prosecution, in line with HSE’s Enforcement Policy Statement and Enforcement Management Model.

In January 2025, HSE published guidance for installers of stone worktops and anyone who cuts or works with stone, outlining the steps necessary to control exposure risks. This guidance emphasises the importance of competent, trained staff and safe processes. Multi-lingual guidance has also been published for workers exposed to RCS. (https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/artificial-stone/).

The COSHH regulations require employers to ensure that employees who are, or are liable to be, exposed to RCS are under suitable health surveillance. The current health surveillance guidance states that if there is a risk of developing conditions, such as accelerated silicosis, the timing and performance of health surveillance should be adapted with suitable timescales if there is history of significant over-exposure to RCS.

HSE has not proposed restriction on the use of engineered stone as silica is a naturally occurring material and natural stone can have similar RCS content to engineered stone, as such restricting the use of engineered stone does not remove the risk to stoneworkers. HSE has undertaken research to investigate the use of lower silica products and is confident that lower silica products are as useable as high silica content products and pose a lower risk for workers. The range of lower silica products on the market has continued to increase and the take up of these low alternatives is growing reinforced by the wider sharing and promotion of HSE ’s research results and regulatory expectations for exposure control with trade associations, suppliers and employers.

People diagnosed with silicosis may be eligible to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). Silicosis is recognised as an industrial disease, and the level of benefit awarded is based on an assessment of the individual's degree of disablement by an independent medical professional. In some cases, additional allowances may also be available depending on individual circumstances.

Where the entitlement criteria are met, individuals may also be eligible for a lump‑sum payment under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979, which provides further financial support for people with certain dust‑related diseases, including silicosis.

The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) fully funds or co-funds education and skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. As well as qualification based provision, this can fund Tailored Learning. Tailored Learning is non-qualification based provision that is locally developed, to meet the needs of learners. Lip-reading provision can be delivered as part of Tailored Learning and recorded as an aim on the Individualised Learner Record.

As of August 2025, 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities (SAs) and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. It is up to these authorities whether they fund lip-reading courses. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for the remaining ASF in non-devolved areas.

There are other forms of available funding for those with hearing loss. For those in work, or who are about to start work, Access to Work provides grant funding to disabled people, and people with a health condition. The grant supports workplace adjustments that go beyond what would normally be expected from an employer through their duty to provide reasonable adjustments as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. Support via Access to Work could include specialist equipment, physical adaptations to premises, or help with the cost of a support worker.

My Department has worked closely with local authorities and other stakeholders on the detailed design of the Fund. We published scheme guidance in January to enable local authorities to prepare for delivery.

The guidance makes clear that the Crisis and Resilience Fund is classified as local welfare provision and is intended to support and strengthen local crisis support and wider local welfare systems, rather than replace existing Local Welfare Assistance schemes.

The information requested is not held in the format specified.

However, while data on the monthly totals for average health professional (HP) full‑time equivalents (FTEs) working on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) contracts, and overall HP FTE leavers, is not currently published by the department, we will be sharing this information in a future statistical release.

The information requested is not held in the format specified.

However, while data on the monthly totals for average health professional (HP) full‑time equivalents (FTEs) working on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) contracts, and overall HP FTE leavers, is not currently published by the department, we will be sharing this information in a future statistical release.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was not undertaken at the point of award of the Nexus contract. Nexus is a call-off contract with a broad scope which, of itself, does not directly introduce defined services or functionality into live operations. EIAs are undertaken at the appropriate point for individual projects delivered through the contract, prior to being deployed into live services.

The Department for Work and Pensions has a legal requirement to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, using tools such as Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and fairness assessments to highlight any potential bias or discrimination risks associated with AI and automation.

The Child Poverty Strategy sets out a range of measures that will address the financial strain on parents and families by boosting their incomes, driving down the cost of essentials, and strengthening local support.

This includes removing the two child limit in Universal Credit, which will see an estimated 560,000 families gaining on average £5,310 p.a. in their award, and introducing the Fair Repayment Rate, benefiting approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households by £420 a year.

We are also addressing families’ costs by increasing Free School Meals to all children in households in receipt of UC which will increase families’ incomes by £500 a year, requiring fewer branded school uniform items which will save families £50 per child, and making infant formula more affordable to save families up to £500 over a baby’s first year of life.

We know that parents with caring responsibilities for a disabled child or a child with a long-term health condition can find it especially hard to combine these responsibilities with paid work, as do parents with caring responsibilities for other family members or friends.

Carers will benefit from the wider measures in the strategy that address financial strain, but the government will also work with carers and employers to review the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 which gave employees a right to time off to care for someone who is disabled, has a long-term health condition, or injury.

The Child Poverty Strategy sets out a range of measures that will address the financial strain on parents and families by boosting their incomes, driving down the cost of essentials, and strengthening local support.

This includes removing the two child limit in Universal Credit, which will see an estimated 560,000 families gaining on average £5,310 p.a. in their award, and introducing the Fair Repayment Rate, benefiting approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households by £420 a year.

We are also addressing families’ costs by increasing Free School Meals to all children in households in receipt of UC which will increase families’ incomes by £500 a year, requiring fewer branded school uniform items which will save families £50 per child, and making infant formula more affordable to save families up to £500 over a baby’s first year of life.

We know that parents with caring responsibilities for a disabled child or a child with a long-term health condition can find it especially hard to combine these responsibilities with paid work, as do parents with caring responsibilities for other family members or friends.

Carers will benefit from the wider measures in the strategy that address financial strain, but the government will also work with carers and employers to review the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 which gave employees a right to time off to care for someone who is disabled, has a long-term health condition, or injury.

I recognise the high levels of interest in the Timms Review and the importance of transparency in its work. The Review is being co-produced and its Steering Group has committed to providing regular updates from the co-chairs on its work as it progresses.