Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - 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 people with each of (1) anxiety and depressive disorders, (2) depressive disorder, (3) schizophrenia, (4) bipolar affective disorder, (5) personality disorder, (6) post traumatic stress disorder, or other psychotic disorders who currently receive the Personal Independence Payment and who at their original assessment (or following mandatory reconsideration or appeal) scored points by satisfying descriptors 1c, 1d and 1f of the mobility component.
Answered by Lord Henley
The table below provides an estimate of the number of people with the conditions requested currently receiving Personal Independence Payment who satisfied descriptors c, d or f of mobility activity 1 at the point of original decision by the Department. Information on the numbers following mandatory reconsideration or appeal is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
| Mobility Activity 1: descriptors c, d or f |
Anxiety / Depressive Disorders | 4,700 |
Bipolar Affective Disorder | 1,500 |
Depressive Disorder | 2,400 |
Personality Disorder | 1,000 |
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | 600 |
Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective disorder | 5,200 |
Notes: Figures rounded to the nearest 100
Figures are at 31 January 2017
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - 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 people currently receiving the standard mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will not be entitled to receive any mobility rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.
Answered by Lord Henley
No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed.
We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations.
I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - 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 people currently receiving the enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will not be entitled to receive any mobility rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.
Answered by Lord Henley
No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed.
We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations.
I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - 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 people currently receiving the enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will move to the standard rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.
Answered by Lord Henley
No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed.
We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations.
I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are they taking to reduce loopholes in planning permission laws and to ensure compliance with the intention behind those laws; and how they are addressing information regarding such loopholes which can be found online.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Enforcement action is at the discretion of local planning authorities. The Government has given them a wide range of enforcement powers with strong penalties for non-compliance. National planning policy provides that authorities should act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control.
It is a fundamental part of the planning system that applicants have a right to challenge a planning decision. However, in recent years we have taken steps to help prevent abuse:
Through the Localism Act 2011, we limited the opportunities to obtain planning permission after the event – either through an enforcement appeal or a retrospective planning application – but not both. We also introduced planning enforcement orders which allow local authorities to take enforcement action after the time limit for enforcement action has expired where there has been deliberate concealment of the apparent breach.
In 2013, the time period for applying for judicial review of decisions under the Planning Acts was reduced from 3 months to 6 weeks.
In 2014, we established the Planning Court with judges who have specialist planning knowledge and target timescales for hearing cases.
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 further streamlined the judicial review process, by introducing a requirement that courts must refuse permission where a claim is highly likely to have made no substantial difference to the outcome.
In August 2015, we made intentional unauthorised development a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals.
‘Leapfrog appeals’ were introduced so that appeals can be made directly to the Supreme Court, bypassing the Court of Appeal.
The enforcement of planning control is a statutory function of local authorities for which they need to budget. However, there are certain circumstances in which local planning authorities can recover the costs of taking enforcement action. For example, where any steps required by an enforcement notice are not taken within the specified compliance period, local authorities may, under section 178 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, take those steps and recover any costs reasonably incurred in doing so from the landowner. Local authorities can also apply for confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to confiscate the proceeds of crime, including from planning offences.
Whilst the Government cannot prevent the spread of information on perceived planning loopholes online, local authorities can deter future breaches of planning control by making appropriate and effective use of the powers available to them.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce health inequalities amongst older people.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Public Health England’s (PHE) older people and dementia work programme uses a range of approaches to help reduce inequalities amongst older people. These include: influencing and commissioning research evidence, publishing resources and tools to support improved commissioning by local authorities and the National Health Service, pilot programmes, collaborating with a range of third sector organisations who are working in the field, and advising the Department.
The NHS Health Check programme aims to target the major causes of premature death, ill health and inequalities in England. Since April 2013, almost five million people aged 40-74 have benefitted from this service. Evidence suggests that the greatest uptake is seen in more deprived communities and older adults.
PHE works closely with local areas to tackle health inequalities. For example, PHE is supporting local authorities to respond to the needs of older drug and alcohol users, particularly an ageing group who are experiencing poor physical and mental health and are more susceptible to alcohol or drug related death.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report by the British Medical Association <i>Growing Older in the UK</i>.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government welcomes the British Medical Association’s report Growing Older in the UK. Supporting people to continue to play an active role in society as they grow older is a priority for Government and the report’s findings will be taken into account in relevant policy development work.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guarantees they plan to give to people with a learning disability that they will continue to have their right to independent living respected following the introduction of the new funding system for supported housing.
Answered by Lord Freud
Supported accommodation plays a vital role in the lives of many vulnerable people. A safe and stable and supportive place to live can be the key to unlocking better outcomes for people and for many it is a stepping stone to independent living in the longer term. The Government values the role supported housing plays and is committed to encouraging further development to meet future demand.
The Secretary of State confirmed in his written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 15th September that the Government will shortly be publishing a consultation document on supported housing.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the introduction of the new funding system for supported housing, what guarantees they plan to give that guidelines for local authorities will be sufficiently robust to ensure that there are no trade-offs between different groups in need of supported housing.
Answered by Lord Freud
The Secretary of State announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 15 September 2016 that a formal consultation document will be published shortly. This consultation will consult on appropriate safeguards to ensure that funding continues to support vulnerable groups and promotes the supply of supported housing.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many respondents to the first consultation on reforming housing benefit for supported housing in 2011 considered the idea of a localised pot to support the right of disabled people to live independently.
Answered by Lord Freud
The consultation in 2011 sought views on a wide variety of options, and received a range of viewpoints, reflecting the diversity of the sector. It did not consider whether localised funding would support the right of disabled people to live independently.