Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 16 September (HL3108), what budget has been allocated to the strategic relationship team in (1) each of the last three financial years, and (2) the current financial year.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Following organisational change for 25-26 and 26-27 we no longer have a discrete budget for Strategic Relationship Team as it is included within a wider budget.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 16 September (HL3108), how many (1) employers, (2) national charities, and (3) community organisations, the strategic relationship team currently works with.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The DWP Strategic Relationship Team currently works with 820 large national organisations on the portfolio.

• 440 are classified as ‘employers’
• 198 are classified as ‘partners’, (which includes national charities and community organisations)
• 182 are classified as ‘trade associations’ (and Business Representative Organisations)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 16 September (HL3108), how many customers have been supported into volunteering opportunities by the strategic relationship team in each of the last three years.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Strategic Relationship Team works with national charity and community partners to secure and promote volunteering opportunities that help Jobcentre Plus customers build skills, confidence and experience.

The Department does not hold the data for the number of customers supported into volunteering opportunities in each of the last three years.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 15 June (HL505), what progress the Health and Safety Executive have made with their consultation; whether they have ensured women of fertile age are included in the consultees; and when they expect to publish their decision regarding any changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2672).

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently consulted widely on proposed changes to the lead in blood exposure levels in the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) 2002. The consultation concluded on 7 June 2026, and included consideration of the impact on different categories of workers including women of reproductive capacity and the operability of any proposed changes.

HSE will continue its analysis and engagement to better understand the impact of the proposed levels in the coming months, prior to making any further recommendations for reform. Since early 2025, HSE has been engaging with a range of businesses especially the heritage sector, which employs a high proportion of women, about possible changes to CLAW to inform this work.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Sherlock on 1 September (HL Deb col 7), what plans they have to work with not-for-profit microfinance organisations such as Purple Shoots to support unemployed people to start their own businesses.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government recognises that self-employment can be a suitable and sustainable route into work for some people, including those who are unemployed.

Through Jobcentre Plus, work coaches can provide self-employment information and support to customers and signpost them to specialist national or local organisations that provide advice to support people to start a business. This includes the Start Up Loans scheme run by the British Business Bank, the Business Support Helpline, Local Growth Hubs in England, Business Wales and Find Business Support and Business Gateway in Scotland, which offer support, advice and guidance to new and existing businesses.

Found: Minister of State (Minister for Energy), Department for Energy Security & Net Zero 14 Baroness SHERLOCK

Found: The Baroness Sherlock OBE Minister of State Department for Work and Pensions Caxton House Tothill

Found: of letters between Stephen Brien, chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) and Baroness Sherlock

Found: Yours sincerely, Baroness Sherlock Minister for Lords Appendix 1.Cohort understanding

Found: Baroness Smith of Malvern Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Sherlock

Found: tr class="govuk-table__row js-govuk-table__row">

Found: Nil Return Baroness Smith of Malvern Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Sherlock

Found: tr class="govuk-table__row js-govuk-table__row">

Found: 46 List of Ministers’ Interests - October 2026 The Baroness Sherlock

Found: The Baroness Sherlock OBE Minister of State Department for Work and Pensions Caxton House Tothill

Found: Yours sincerely, Baroness Sherlock Minister for Lords Appendix 1.Cohort understanding

Found: of letters between Stephen Brien, chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) and Baroness Sherlock

Found: 00Cyfarfod/MeetingIan Barrow HMPPS2026-09-08 00:00:00Cyfarfod/MeetingChild Poverty Strategy with Baroness Sherlock