Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the awareness raised by the MeToo campaign, what steps her Department is taking to tackle workplace cultures that promote sexual harassment and abuse.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government is clear that unwanted conduct in the workplace that violates a person’s dignity or creates a hostile or degrading environment is unacceptable. Legal protection from such harassment in the workplace exists through the Equality Act 2010.
The Government is considering the recommendations made by the Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) in its inquiry report into sexual harassment in the workplace, and will respond to these in due course.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether, the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of including provisions on automatic split payments in the draft Domestic Abuse Bill.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice led on the recent domestic abuse consultation and draft Domestic Abuse Bill. They will publish their response later this session.
Split payments are already available on request in Universal Credit as part of our Alternative Payment Arrangements. Not all victims of domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits their individual circumstances. We will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, and direct them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice.
We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's definition of austerity is; and how his Department measures austerity.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Chancellor will set out the government’s plans for the economy and public finances in detail at Budget.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to improve support for people at risk of suicide (a) claiming and (b) transitioning to universal credit.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously.
The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy, backed by £1.5 million for research, aims to reduce the suicide rate and provide better support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide.
The well-being of people accessing and receiving support from DWP is of the utmost importance and we have improved support and guidance for staff on how best to support vulnerable people.
We have already started training all Work Coaches, including Universal Credit Full Service Work Coaches, in how to support claimants with mental health conditions. This training will be complete by all Work Coaches in early 2019. They have experience of working with a full range of disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues.
In addition to our on-going support for work coaches and claimants, we have recruited new Community Partners who provide expertise, often based on their lived experience and external expertise, of disability and health condition issues. We have also recruited more Disability Employment Advisors who are actively providing advice and guidance on what works for claimants with disabilities, including those with mental health issues.
From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on the responsibility for delivering a strengthened Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country.
The support scheme will help claimants through every step of making a Universal Credit claim. It will offer people the comprehensive and practical support they need to get their first payment on time and be ready to manage it when it arrives.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to investigate reported links between (a) suicide and (b) attempted suicide and migration to universal credit.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously.
The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy, backed by £1.5 million for research, aims to reduce the suicide rate and provide better support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide.
The well-being of people accessing and receiving support from DWP is of the utmost importance and we have improved support and guidance for staff on how best to support vulnerable people.
We have already started training all Work Coaches, including Universal Credit Full Service Work Coaches, in how to support claimants with mental health conditions. This training will be complete by all Work Coaches in early 2019. They have experience of working with a full range of disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues.
In addition to our on-going support for work coaches and claimants, we have recruited new Community Partners who provide expertise, often based on their lived experience and external expertise, of disability and health condition issues. We have also recruited more Disability Employment Advisors who are actively providing advice and guidance on what works for claimants with disabilities, including those with mental health issues.
From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on the responsibility for delivering a strengthened Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country.
The support scheme will help claimants through every step of making a Universal Credit claim. It will offer people the comprehensive and practical support they need to get their first payment on time and be ready to manage it when it arrives.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of the processes in job centres to support staff with clients expressing suicidal thoughts.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously.
The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy, backed by £1.5 million for research, aims to reduce the suicide rate and provide better support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide.
The well-being of people accessing and receiving support from DWP is of the utmost importance and we have improved support and guidance for staff on how best to support vulnerable people.
We have already started training all Work Coaches, including Universal Credit Full Service Work Coaches, in how to support claimants with mental health conditions. This training will be complete by all Work Coaches in early 2019. They have experience of working with a full range of disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues.
In addition to our on-going support for work coaches and claimants, we have recruited new Community Partners who provide expertise, often based on their lived experience and external expertise, of disability and health condition issues. We have also recruited more Disability Employment Advisors who are actively providing advice and guidance on what works for claimants with disabilities, including those with mental health issues.
From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on the responsibility for delivering a strengthened Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country.
The support scheme will help claimants through every step of making a Universal Credit claim. It will offer people the comprehensive and practical support they need to get their first payment on time and be ready to manage it when it arrives.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support those with mental health issues to claim universal credit.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously.
The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy, backed by £1.5 million for research, aims to reduce the suicide rate and provide better support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide.
The well-being of people accessing and receiving support from DWP is of the utmost importance and we have improved support and guidance for staff on how best to support vulnerable people.
We have already started training all Work Coaches, including Universal Credit Full Service Work Coaches, in how to support claimants with mental health conditions. This training will be complete by all Work Coaches in early 2019. They have experience of working with a full range of disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues.
In addition to our on-going support for work coaches and claimants, we have recruited new Community Partners who provide expertise, often based on their lived experience and external expertise, of disability and health condition issues. We have also recruited more Disability Employment Advisors who are actively providing advice and guidance on what works for claimants with disabilities, including those with mental health issues.
From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on the responsibility for delivering a strengthened Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country.
The support scheme will help claimants through every step of making a Universal Credit claim. It will offer people the comprehensive and practical support they need to get their first payment on time and be ready to manage it when it arrives.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the universal credit transition process on the mental health of applicants.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously.
The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy, backed by £1.5 million for research, aims to reduce the suicide rate and provide better support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide.
The well-being of people accessing and receiving support from DWP is of the utmost importance and we have improved support and guidance for staff on how best to support vulnerable people.
We have already started training all Work Coaches, including Universal Credit Full Service Work Coaches, in how to support claimants with mental health conditions. This training will be complete by all Work Coaches in early 2019. They have experience of working with a full range of disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues.
In addition to our on-going support for work coaches and claimants, we have recruited new Community Partners who provide expertise, often based on their lived experience and external expertise, of disability and health condition issues. We have also recruited more Disability Employment Advisors who are actively providing advice and guidance on what works for claimants with disabilities, including those with mental health issues.
From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on the responsibility for delivering a strengthened Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country.
The support scheme will help claimants through every step of making a Universal Credit claim. It will offer people the comprehensive and practical support they need to get their first payment on time and be ready to manage it when it arrives.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether, the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of including provisions on automatic split payments in the draft Domestic Abuse Bill.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice led on the recent domestic abuse consultation and draft Domestic Abuse Bill. They will publish their response later this session.
Split payments are already available on request in Universal Credit as part of our Alternative Payment Arrangements. Not all victims of domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits their individual circumstances. We will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, and direct them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice.
We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.
Asked by: Danielle Rowley (Labour - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the evidential base is for the claim that the two-child limit policy will encourage families to reflect carefully on their readiness to support an additional child; and how that claim relates to families who already have two or more children.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
I refer the hon. Member to my reply to Question 181634 on 24 October 2018.