Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to change the existing legislation on the filling of jerry cans of diesel or petrol at filling stations.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are no plans to update the existing legislation (The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014) as it already addresses what can be filled at petrol filling stations. HSE has published guidance on the types of container that can be filled in a petrol filling station on their website.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to put in place greater interim and transitional funding for claimants (a) during and (b) after personal independence payment appeals.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
There is currently interim support available during the appeals period. For those who were members of the Motability scheme under DLA, Motability pays for a £175 million package of transitional support which normally includes a £2,000 cash lump sum. Individuals could use this payment to support their mobility needs during this time.
The Government is always exploring new ways to support disabled people, including those making PIP appeals. There have been no decisions at this time.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to make payments for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment and support allowance.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
We regularly review the way in which we process personal independence payments (PIP) and employment and support allowance (ESA) to ensure claimants are paid at the earliest opportunity. PIP has an on-going continuous improvement plan in place. Identifying opportunities for claimants to provide the ‘right’ evidence at the ‘right’ time, enhancing the quality of the decision making process.
Where the claimant has not provided all the information required to determine their award we proactively seek this information from them or a third party.
Once an award for ESA has been made we select the quickest method of payment available to ensure that any payment due is paid to the claimant as quickly as possible. For the majority of new claimants to PIP they will be paid any arrears of benefit within a few days of the decision being made.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to change testing criteria for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment and support allowance.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
We continually keep the assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) under review.
As announced on 1 October 2016, we will stop requiring people with the most severe, lifetime conditions to be repeatedly assessed for ESA and Universal Credit. Over the coming months we will work with our health assessment provider, medical professionals and other stakeholders to develop a set of criteria to switch off re-assessments for people with the most severe health conditions or disabilities.
In addition the Green Paper, launched on 31 October 2016 explores a range of options, and points to long-term reform, including how we might simplify and improve the assessment process for people with health conditions.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to providers of requiring all private pension payments, including to those pensioners whose contributions were paid prior to 1997, to increase in line with the retail price index.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Department for Work and Pensions does not currently hold the information to answer either of these questions. The Department is not able to provide this information or make an estimate of potential costs as the information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of pensioners whose contributions were paid prior to 1997 who are not receiving annual increases to their private pension payments which are in line with the retail price index.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The Department for Work and Pensions does not currently hold the information to answer either of these questions. The Department is not able to provide this information or make an estimate of potential costs as the information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the housing benefit cap on the ability of people with severe mental illness to afford suitable housing.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Secretary of State has confirmed that the Government expects to make an announcement on the way forward for supported housing in early autumn.
Full impact and equality impact assessments will be undertaken in due course.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that people affected by severe mental illness are able to live as independently as possible.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
In January 2016 the Government announced almost £1 billion of additional investment for mental health which included over £400 million to enable round-the-clock treatment in communities as a safe and effective alternative to hospital.
The Work and Health Unit is testing a range of interventions to support people with mental illness to obtain and stay in work.
NHS England is also working to ensure that by 2020/21 all areas are providing crisis resolution and home treatment teams that are resourced to operate in line with recognised best practice – delivering a round-the-clock, community-based crisis response and intensive home treatment as an alternative to acute inpatient admissions.