Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings by the Office of Budget Responsibility in Economic and fiscal outlook: March 2026, published on 3 March, that recent increases in labour force survey unemployment have not translated into higher numbers in the searching-for-work group of universal credit, what assessment they have made of whether the recent increase in unemployment is concentrated among individuals outside the benefits system, specifically (1) young people residing with parents, (2) individuals supported by partner income or savings, (3) individuals moving into other benefit categories, or (4) individuals becoming economically inactive rather than claiming universal credit.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.
Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available
Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.
People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.
The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.
No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.
The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.
We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.
This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.
In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many individuals, broken down by age group and region, are recorded as unemployed on the according to the labour force survey but are not captured in the universal credit unemployed caseload because they are (1) ineligible, (2) supported by savings or partner income, (3) recently unemployed with very short spells, or (4) otherwise not claiming benefits.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.
Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available
Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.
People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.
The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.
No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.
The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.
We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.
This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.
In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the Office of Budget Responsibility's March 2026 forecast revisions, whether they have commissioned any independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals; and if so, what the findings are on eligibility, uptake rates, and claim timing relative to labour force survey unemployment spells.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.
Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available
Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.
People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.
The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.
No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.
The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.
We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.
This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.
In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the comments of the Minister for Pensions on the Making Money podcast on 17 November, whether the Pensions Commission is scheduled to report within 12 months; and what is the expected date of publication.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Pensions Commission has been tasked with considering how to deliver financial security in retirement and support those approaching retirement through a pensions framework that is strong, fair and sustainable. The Pensions Commission is expected to publish its final report in early 2027.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure a balance of perspectives among the chairs and steering group members of the review of Personal Independent Payment, and whether they will consider members with backgrounds in operational delivery, systems reform and efficiency.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) draws on a wide range of perspectives and expertise.
On 30 October the Minister for Social Security and Disability announced that he would co-chair the Review alongside Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise and experience in health and disability issues, as well as the co-production process.
Members of the steering group will be recruited through an open Expression of Interest process, which is now live. The EOI has been designed to ensure the steering group reflects a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds. The t applications will be sifted against the criteria set out in the EOI, including experience and expertise in disability and social security issues, working with disabled people, commitment to working collaboratively and inclusively, and ability to evaluate a range of evidence and engage with complex policy issues.
The steering group will not work alone: it will oversee a wider programme of participation to ensure the full range of views and voices are heard.
The Review will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by autumn 2026, with an interim update expected ahead of that.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to include addressing systemic and administrative challenges, such as fluctuating conditions, assessment quality, appeal outcomes and interaction with health services, within the scope of the terms of reference for the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, to ensure that expertise from a wide range of perspectives is drawn upon.
On 30 October, the Government published revised Terms of Reference on GOV.UK which set out further details about its scope. The Review will include consideration of:
We also announced that the Review will be co-chaired by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms, alongside Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE. They will oversee a steering group responsible for leading the co-production process, setting the Review's strategic direction, priorities and workplan. The group will be made up of a majority of disabled people or representatives of disabled people's organisations and will be recruited through an open and transparent Expression of Interest process.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment will examine opportunities to improve assessment accuracy and reduce duplication by modernising delivery, including through the use of digital integration with NHS data and other public services.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, to ensure that expertise from a wide range of perspectives is drawn upon.
On 30 October, the Government published revised Terms of Reference on GOV.UK which set out further details about its scope. The Review will include consideration of:
We also announced that the Review will be co-chaired by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms, alongside Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE. They will oversee a steering group responsible for leading the co-production process, setting the Review's strategic direction, priorities and workplan. The group will be made up of a majority of disabled people or representatives of disabled people's organisations and will be recruited through an open and transparent Expression of Interest process.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the terms of reference of the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment state that the purpose of the review is not to generate proposals for future savings; and whether improving value for money and reducing inefficiency remains a priority in the design of disability benefits.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to spending public money as effectively as possible to support disabled people in living independent and fulfilling lives. The aim of the Review is to ensure we have a system that supports disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence, including through employment.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish the full findings, evidence base and consultation responses of the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment, in addition to the outcomes.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Timms Review will report its findings to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for decision in autumn 2026, with an interim update expected ahead of this.
As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability set out to the House of Commons on the 9 July, the Government will report the Review's outcomes to Parliament.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to communicate with vulnerable people about planned welfare reform, particularly in regard to providing clarity and alleviating concerns.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have set out proposals to reform the health and disability benefits proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper published on 18 March 2025. A full suite of accessible versions is available including Audio, British Sign Language, Braille, Large Print and Easy Read.
The consultation will close on 30 June 2025, to ensure that everyone has sufficient time to engage with and respond to the consultation.
We want to improve and refine our plans by consulting on certain measures as described within the paper. We are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything we do.
The Green Paper is an important staging post on a journey of reform, building on the vision and approach set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper in November 2024. It sets out our vision, strategy and proposals for change. We would like to hear views from a wide group of people, in particular disabled people and people with health conditions and disability organisations and encourage responses to the consultation through the online form, email and post.
We are also running a number of accessible virtual and face-to-face events on the Green Paper to hear from stakeholders, including disabled people and their representative organisations, directly. More information on these events and registration are available on GOV.UK.
In the Green Paper, we have also announced that we will set up collaboration committees to develop parts of our reforms further. This will involve bringing together disabled people and other experts with civil servants around specific issues to collaborate, provide ideas, challenge, and input into recommendations.