Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to announce a decision on the future of Newton-le-Willows job centre.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Department intends to confirm its plans for the DWP estate, including Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre, soon and will make a statement in due course.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effect that a Local Housing Allowance cap will have on other services provided by local authorities.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
To date no assessment has been made of the effect of a Local Housing Allowance cap that will be introduced in the social rented sector from 2019 on other services provided by local authorities as the policy has not been finalised.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of implementing the Local Housing Allowance cap.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Local Housing Allowance rates will be introduced into the social rented sector in April 2019. We estimate that this policy will save the Exchequer £235 million in 2019/20.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much top-up funding will be provided to each local authority following the introduction of the Local Housing Allowance cap.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The information requested is not available. We have recently completed a joint DWP/DCLG consultation on the supported housing model with commissioners and providers, developers and investors, residents and those who represent their views. The new model outlined in our consultation will enable local authorities to assess their provision by utilising their local knowledge to drive transparency, quality and value for money from their service providers.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of 18 to 21 year olds in (a) St Helens North constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) the UK who will be affected by the recent Universal Credit (Housing Costs Element for claimants aged 18 to 21) (Amendment) Regulations 2017.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Department estimates that, nationally, 5,000 people will be affected in the first year with 10,000 a year affected in steady state. No estimates have been made at more localised levels.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have accessed services at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre in each year since 2010.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We are unable to provide exact figures of people who have accessed services at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre, as the extent to which they are required to attend will vary, depending upon the specific requirements of the benefit they receive. The purpose of the equality analysis is to help establish how many people are likely to be affected by the proposal.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in which postcodes are covered by Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Newton le Willows covers the WA12 postcode area. There are currently 213 JSA claimants, 105 ESA, 71 IS and 185 UC claimants on caseloads at this office.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff of his Department are employed at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
At 31 December 2016 the Department for Work and Pensions employed four staff at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
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 people who have used food banks in (a) St Helens North constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) the UK in each year from 2010 to 2015.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Department does not hold information on the number of people who use food banks
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was for people who successfully appealed their application for personal independence payments to receive a payment before being reassessed.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
We do not hold the information you have requested and this could only be collected and provided at a disproportionate cost.