Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from taxing the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from maintaining the Winter Fuel Payment for all citizens except higher-rate taxpayers.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the expected net revenue gain from restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners in receipt of pension credit.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what regulations govern Universal Credit payments for prisoners immediately after their release.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are no specific regulations that govern the payment of Universal Credit (UC) to a prisoner upon release. They are treated like every other customer when they make a claim to UC. If they need urgent financial assistance when they have completed their online UC claim they can ask for a new claim advance payment which is offered to all new customers. There are provisions (Claims and Payments Regulations 2013) that allow prisoners to start to prepare their UC claim before their release, however the date of entitlement starts on the release date, and first payment is usually made around five weeks after the claim is made.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 5 June (HL15876), whether they intend to legislate to introduce collective defined contribution schemes by the end of 2019.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
I refer the Noble Lord to my previous responses. The Government will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to legislate to introduce collective defined contribution schemes by the end of 2019.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
This Government has recently published a response to a Collective Defined Contribution schemes consultation setting out its plans, and has engaged extensively with key stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to bring forward legislation to introduce collective defined contribution pension schemes in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
This Government has recently published a response to a Collective Defined Contribution schemes consultation setting out its plans, and has engaged extensively with key stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many food banks have opened in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland, and (4) Northern Ireland since 2010.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
There is no official data or record of the number of foodbanks in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Details of foodbanks operating through the Trussell Trust network and statistics on the number of food parcels distributed can be found on the charity’s website www.trusselltrust.org. The Independent Foodbank Network is also working to identify food banks in the United Kingdom operating outside the Trussell Trust network; further information is on their website www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foodbanks have opened in England since 2010.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
There is no official data or record of the number of foodbanks in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Details of foodbanks operating through the Trussell Trust network and statistics on the number of food parcels distributed can be found on the charity’s website www.trusselltrust.org. The Independent Foodbank Network is also working to identify food banks in the United Kingdom operating outside the Trussell Trust network; further information is on their website www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of benefit is paid to prisoners upon release; and for how many weeks.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
The level of benefit paid to prisoners on release and the length that this benefit is paid is dependent on the individual's personal circumstances. DWP Prison Work Coaches provide support to prisoners to make their claim to benefits, and for those prisoners engaging with the Prison Work Coach an advanced appointment will be made for as soon as possible following release. This could be for the same day that they leave prison. Prison leavers who are in financial need will be eligible to receive up to 100 per cent of their first month’s entitlement in advance.