Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the number of UK citizens living abroad whose pensions are frozen at a level of £100 per week or below.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
As of February 2019, the estimated cost of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries was around £0.6 billion for 2022 to 2023. This information is published at Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The total number of people in receipt of a frozen State Pension abroad at a level under £100 per week was 428,830 as of November 2020. ‘UK citizenship’ is not defined/identifiable in this data. This information is published on Stat-Xplore: Stat-Xplore - Home (dwp.gov.uk)
Figure rounded to the nearest 10.
The policy on uprating UK State Pensions overseas is long-standing and has been supported by successive post-war Government for over 70 years. We continue to uprate UK State Pensions abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no plans to change this policy.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of uprating the pensions of UK citizens living abroad to £100 per week.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
As of February 2019, the estimated cost of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries was around £0.6 billion for 2022 to 2023. This information is published at Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The total number of people in receipt of a frozen State Pension abroad at a level under £100 per week was 428,830 as of November 2020. ‘UK citizenship’ is not defined/identifiable in this data. This information is published on Stat-Xplore: Stat-Xplore - Home (dwp.gov.uk)
Figure rounded to the nearest 10.
The policy on uprating UK State Pensions overseas is long-standing and has been supported by successive post-war Government for over 70 years. We continue to uprate UK State Pensions abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no plans to change this policy.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of uprating the pensions of all UK citizens living abroad to the current level of the state pension.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
As of February 2019, the estimated cost of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries was around £0.6 billion for 2022 to 2023. This information is published at Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The total number of people in receipt of a frozen State Pension abroad at a level under £100 per week was 428,830 as of November 2020. ‘UK citizenship’ is not defined/identifiable in this data. This information is published on Stat-Xplore: Stat-Xplore - Home (dwp.gov.uk)
Figure rounded to the nearest 10.
The policy on uprating UK State Pensions overseas is long-standing and has been supported by successive post-war Government for over 70 years. We continue to uprate UK State Pensions abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no plans to change this policy.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - 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 wheelchair users who would be able to get employment if all buildings which are accessible to the public were made fully accessible to wheelchair users.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
No such estimate has been made and nor do we hold data on the number of wheelchair users affected in this way.
We are committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives. In the Levelling-Up White Paper we announced that the UK Government will provide £1.3bn over the Spending Review 2021 period to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. This includes Access to Work: a demand-led, discretionary grant intended to support disabled people to move into and sustain paid employment by providing a contribution to the costs of overcoming workplace barriers. The grant is not means tested and can contribute to the disability related extra costs in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments.
In 2017 the Government set a goal to see a million more disabled people in employment between 2017 and 2027. The latest figures released for Q1 (January to March) 2022 show that between Q1 2017 and Q1 2022 the number of disabled people in employment increased by 1.3m – meaning the goal has been met after five years.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - 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 wheelchair users who are not able to get employment since all buildings which are accessible to the public are not required to have full access for wheelchair users.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
No such estimate has been made and nor do we hold data on the number of wheelchair users affected in this way.
We are committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives. In the Levelling-Up White Paper we announced that the UK Government will provide £1.3bn over the Spending Review 2021 period to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. This includes Access to Work: a demand-led, discretionary grant intended to support disabled people to move into and sustain paid employment by providing a contribution to the costs of overcoming workplace barriers. The grant is not means tested and can contribute to the disability related extra costs in the workplace that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments.
In 2017 the Government set a goal to see a million more disabled people in employment between 2017 and 2027. The latest figures released for Q1 (January to March) 2022 show that between Q1 2017 and Q1 2022 the number of disabled people in employment increased by 1.3m – meaning the goal has been met after five years.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to investigate reports that clothing manufacturing businesses in Leicester (1) have not complied with the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) do not intend to follow the restrictions being put in place to address the localised lockdown.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) website (www.hse.gov.uk) has advice for businesses and organisations on the precautions required in the workplace, including from COVID-19 and enables employees and others to contact HSE about working conditions or practices. HSE has also been working alongside other government departments across a range of sectors following up reports and concerns about safety in the workplace and COVID-19 restrictions.
Throughout the pandemic, HSE has actively engaged with businesses, including clothing manufacturers, by site visits and phone calls, investigating reports from those raising concerns, assessing compliance with health and safety law, and using guidance such as that published about social distancing from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19).
Specifically, in Leicester HSE has investigated 3 textile businesses following concerns reported, contacted 17 and undertaken 14 site visits to assess compliance with health and safety legislation. Enforcement action has been taken at 1 of these sites where non-compliance with COVID-19 risk controls was found.
HSE will continue to regulate workplaces by carrying out proactive spot checks over the coming weeks to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect workers from COVID-19. In Leicester, HSE has prioritised these spot checks in the textile industry and will take enforcement action to secure compliance where businesses cannot demonstrate they are taking all reasonable steps to make their workplace COVID secure. HSE will also continue to respond to reports of concerns raised.
(Footnote – It is usual to provide documents when web links are used in Parliamentary Questions but during the COVID – 19 outbreak Government Departments have used interactive websites that allow stakeholders to access a wide range of guidance that is relevant to their situation. These sites have content pages that link to other sites and documents.)
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consult on the recreation of the Disability Rights Commission with all its previous powers and under the auspices of the DWP.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
We are committed to supporting all disabled people to live independent lives, and to reach their full potential in a modern and inclusive society. This includes ensuring disabled people are engaged with all decisions that concern them.
We have no current plans to consult to recreate the Disability Human Rights Commission as this role is now exercised by the government funded, Equality and Human Rights Commission which replaced the Disability Rights Commission in 2007.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the study conducted by DisabledGo and the Department for Work and Pensions in 2014, what is their current estimate of the number or proportion of shops with wheelchair access; and whether they intend to conduct a further study.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
There are no plans to conduct a further study with DisabledGo at this time and DCLG have no current data on the number of accessible shops.
Earlier this year the Minister for Disabled People appointed a number of Sector Champions to help tackle the issues disabled people face as consumers. The champions represent a range of different sectors and businesses, including retail (Helen Drury) and tourism (Chris Veitch). The Champions are using their influential status as leaders to drive improvements to the accessibility and quality of services and facilities for disabled people.
On 27 November the Minister will be hosting a round table with the Retail Sector Champion and leaders of large retail companies to discuss accessibility in the retail industry.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce legislation (1) prohibiting companies withdrawing moneys from their pension funds for any reason, or (2) requiring them to keep their funds topped up to the level recommended by actuaries.
Answered by Lord Henley
Current legislation already requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover the cost of paying future pensions when they fall due, or to put in place a recovery plan to ensure that the scheme returns to full funding within a reasonable period. It also prohibits the transfer of funds from the scheme to the employer apart from some limited circumstances and where there is a surplus.
The Government’s Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Green Paper explores a number of aspects of defined benefit pensions, including scheme funding arrangements and invites views. This paper was laid before Parliament on 20 February 2017.
The closing date for comments is 14 May 2017; responses can be submitted to the following postal address:
DB Consultation Private Pensions
First Floor
Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
London
SW1A 9NA
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom nationals who have returned from fighting for Islamic State in either Iraq, Syria, or both, or are currently believed to be fighting for Islamic State in those countries, were or are in receipt of state benefits whilst abroad.
Answered by Lord Freud
The information is not available. In order to be eligible to receive state benefits, eligibility conditions usually require a claimant to be resident in the United Kingdom. We have strict rules that are designed to prevent people taking inappropriate advantage of our benefit system to protect the taxpayer and the benefit system from possible abuse.
Claimants are required to tell DWP if they leave the country to travel abroad. If they move overseas without informing the Department then we investigate and can stop benefit payments.