Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 17 July (HL1821), how they will inform stakeholders and parliamentarians of changes to Universal Credit as a result of the Universal Credit Review.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Universal Credit Review has been designed as an ongoing flexible programme of engagement, evidence gathering and policy development rather than a single review culminating in a final report. This approach has allowed the Department to respond to evidence as it emerges and take forward improvements where appropriate.
Any future changes to Universal Credit arising from the Review will be announced in line with established Government and Parliamentary processes.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish the findings of their review of Universal Credit; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Since launching the Universal Credit Review in late 2024, we have engaged extensively with stakeholders, organisations and customers to understand better how Universal Credit is working in practice and where there may be opportunities for improvement. The Review has strengthened the Department’s evidence base and informed work across a number of policy areas where stakeholders and customers identified opportunities to improve how Universal Credit operates in practice.
We are not planning to publish a single final report, as the Review has been designed as a continuing programme of engagement, evidence gathering and policy development. This approach allows the Department to respond to evidence as it emerges and take forward improvements where appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which children living in poverty have unequal access to trees and green spaces compared to other children and of the implications for their health and well being; and what steps they are taking to address any such inequality as part of the child poverty strategy.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Poverty Strategy recognises that place is fundamental to child poverty, shaping the environment in which children grow up, and the opportunities parents have to provide for their children. Access to green space is a key part of this, providing opportunities for play, physical activity, social interaction and improved mental wellbeing, supporting healthier childhood development and life outcomes.
Local people know best what change is needed and empowering local areas to improve outcomes and opportunities for children is a fundamental principle of the strategy. Through the Pride in Place Programme, we will invest £5.8 billion in 284 communities over the next decade. Communities will develop plans for the future of their areas based on local priorities, which could include creating and improving green spaces.
The Pride in Place Impact Fund will also provide up to £150 million of funding to 95 places to support the development of community spaces, public spaces (including parks and playgrounds) and to revitalise local high streets. The £18 million Playgrounds Fund will improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where there is the greatest need.
This sits alongside Best Start Family Hubs, the Better Futures Fund and wider investment in local services and neighbourhoods.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people placed in the Support Group receive only New Style Employment and Support Allowance, by duration of awards (1) under two years, (2) between two and five years, (3) between five and ten years, (4) between 10 and 15 years, and (5) 15 years and longer; and what is the gender breakdown for each duration.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information is in the table:
Support Group New Style Employment and Support Allowance claimants by duration and gender – November 2025
| Female | Male | ||
| Volume | Percentage | Volume | Percentage |
Under 2 years | 41,600 | 12% | 32,500 | 10% |
2 to 5 years | 63,700 | 18% | 44,900 | 14% |
5 to 10 years | 80,300 | 23% | 66,100 | 21% |
10 to 15 years | 158,600 | 45% | 161,300 | 51% |
15 + years | 11,200 | 3% | 11,100 | 4% |
This analysis is partially based on Internal DWP administrative data. The volume of claimants by duration up to 5 years can be found on Stat-Xplore in the ESA- Data from May 2018 dataset. The published statistics amalgamate the final three categories into one category (5 years and over), in this analysis this cohort has been split into three categories using internal unpublished administrative data.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many and what proportion of people currently placed in the Support Group and receiving only New Style Employment and Support Allowance are also undertaking paid work within the permitted work limits; and what is their gender breakdown.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Reliable data is not held centrally so the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 12 April 2025 (HL6439), what further programme of analysis have been undertaken of a time-limited contribution-based unemployment insurance; and what estimate they have made of the number of people who would no longer be entitled to this benefit if it is time-limited for (1) six months, and (2) 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the Unemployment Insurance will be published in due course. Some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made a qualitative assessment of the impact of the decision not to uprate Local Housing Allowance in 2026–27 on homelessness among households in receipt of Universal Credit where at least one individual is in work.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
At Autumn Budget 2025, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed Local Housing Allowance and decided to maintain rates at their current levels for 2026/27. Rent levels across Great Britain were considered alongside other factors, such as social security priorities and support currently available within the challenging fiscal context.
The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. DWP continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on homelessness. MHCLG published its National Plan to End Homelessness in December.
The new multi-year Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) gives councils more stable funding to support households in financial difficulty and to prevent crises before they occur. Renters facing a shortfall can apply for a CRF Housing Payment in England. Discretionary Housing Payments continue to be available in Wales.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many and what proportion of Universal Credit claimants are expected to qualify for the higher rate of the limited capacity for work and work-related activity provision under the severe conditions criteria.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The requested information is in the table below.
| 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | 2029/30 |
Total severe conditions criteria protected from reassessments | 170,000 | 180,000 | 190,000 | 200,000 |
Source: Universal Credit Rebalancing Impact Assessment, Table 7.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people in the past year were considered as having (1) limited capability for work, or (2) limited capacity for work and work-related activity due to pregnancy risks, broken down by whether they received (a) New Style Employment and Support Allowance only, (b) New Style Employment and Support Allowance and an income-related benefit, such as Universal Credit, and (c) Universal Credit only.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The requested information for Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is provided in the table below.
Please note that Pregnancy risk cases are only recorded for Work Capability Assessment (WCA) decisions for limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) in UC and Support Group (SG) in New Style ESA, and not limited capability for work (LCW) in UC or Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG) decisions in New Style ESA.
UC WCA decisions for LCWRA pregnancy risk by date of decision between October 2024 to September 2025
UC WCA decision reason | Total |
LCWRA Pregnancy Risk | 1,280 |
ESA WCA decisions for SG pregnancy risk by date of decision between October 2024 to September 2025
ESA WCA decision reason | Total |
Support Group Pregnancy Risk | 35 |
Of which New Style ESA | 25 |
Of which New Style ESA and Universal Credit (dual claims) | 5 |
Source: ESA & UC administrative data.
Notes:
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the joint briefing by Gingerbread, Surviving Economic Abuse, and Women’s Aid, “Maintenance is used as a weapon all of the time”: Domestic Abuse and the Child Maintenance Service, published on 22 April; and what steps they are taking to improve interdepartmental information sharing to verify the income of paying parents within the Child Maintenance Service.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In order to support victims/survivors of domestic abuse, all Child Maintenance Service (CMS) caseworkers receive extensive training and follow a well-managed process with clear steps to support and recognise domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour.
The CMS is strengthening support for victims/survivors, for example by making it easier for parents to switch to the Collect and Pay service and being clearer in its communication about what support is available for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and how to access it.
The government intends to remove Direct Pay. Doing so will go further in supporting victims/survivors, and we will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows.
The CMS maintains the accuracy of child maintenance calculations by using verified income information from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and benefit systems.
Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly from HMRC for the latest tax year available. This allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately. Any income subject to income tax including bonuses and overtime received by an employed paying parent, is included within their gross weekly income when calculating a child maintenance liability.