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Written Question
Older People: Public Appointments
Friday 11th December 2020

Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint a commissioner for older people in England.

Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott

There are no plans to appoint a Commissioner for older people in England.


Written Question
Government Equalities Office: Females
Tuesday 3rd November 2020

Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of women’s organisations the Government Equalities Office regularly engages with; and by what methods that Office engages with those women’s organisations.

Answered by Baroness Berridge

The Government Equalities Office has engaged with more than 25 women’s organisations by phone, email, online and in person in 2020. GEO regularly meets with relevant umbrella organisations including, most recently, Equally Ours, the UK Civil Society Women’s Alliance, National Alliance of Women's Organisations and Business in the Community to discuss the gendered impacts of COVID-19 to feed into policy advice. GEO is working to ensure the government can hear and be influenced by a wide range of women’s voices.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Monday 29th June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when a decision will be made on whether the current suspension of face-to-face assessments for welfare benefits will be extended, and how this will be communicated.

Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott

Our priority throughout this health emergency continues to be to protect the public and staff, while ensuring people get the benefits they are entitled to quickly and safely. Reviews and reassessments remain suspended while we review what activity we can gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice. We will confirm next steps as soon as possible.


Written Question
Housing: Domestic Abuse
Tuesday 19th September 2017

Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in the benefit cap on housing availability for victims with children under two who have fled abusive partners and who are currently (1) residing in a refuge, and (2) residing in other forms of temporary accommodation.

Answered by Baroness Buscombe

People who are subject to the benefit cap still receive benefits that are equivalent of gross family earnings of £25K, and £29K in London. If this is not enough money to secure a tenancy, the claimant can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) which can be given in advance to help secure a property. The DHP guidance explicitly states that funding should be aimed at individuals or families fleeing domestic violence.

We have commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to carry out some research into the new lower, tiered Benefit Cap and we are working with the Institute for Fiscal Studies to peer review in-house analysis on the impacts of the lower benefit cap on capped households. It is expected that a full evaluation report will be produced around the end of 2018.


Written Question
Housing: Domestic Abuse
Tuesday 19th September 2017

Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to assess the impact of the lower benefit cap on the length of a victim’s stay in a domestic abuse refuge, and the resulting cost to the taxpayer.

Answered by Baroness Buscombe

People who are subject to the benefit cap still receive benefits that are equivalent of gross family earnings of £25K, and £29K in London. If this is not enough money to secure a tenancy, the claimant can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) which can be given in advance to help secure a property. The DHP guidance explicitly states that funding should be aimed at individuals or families fleeing domestic violence.

We have commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to carry out some research into the new lower, tiered Benefit Cap and we are working with the Institute for Fiscal Studies to peer review in-house analysis on the impacts of the lower benefit cap on capped households. It is expected that a full evaluation report will be produced around the end of 2018.