Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What steps he is taking to ensure that adequate infrastructure is put in place to support the proposed increase in housing in the Swale borough council area.
Answered by James Brokenshire
We will engage with Highways England and Swale Council to explore ways forward. We are already providing £3.5 million to provide local infrastructure for Swale, and we are working with Kent County Council to develop their proposals for larger, strategic infrastructure.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that alternative payment arrangements are put in place as soon as possible to avoid rent arrears for tenants and a loss of income for landlords and agents.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
A Managed Payment to Landlords (MPTL) is an Alternate Payment Arrangement (APA) that minimises the risk of claimants failing to pay their rent by paying an amount equivalent to the housing cost of their Universal Credit directly to their landlord, on the claimant’s behalf.
The decision to move a claimant on to managed payments can occur at the outset of the claim or when a claimant has accrued rent arrears - at two months or in some cases following one month due to ‘persistent underpayment’ of their rent. However, an APA can be requested at any point during the Universal Credit claim, as a claimant’s circumstances may change. A MPTL can be requested by the claimant, their representative or their landlord and will be considered on a case by case basis.
Requests for MPTLs are dealt with as a priority. The processing time of these requests is also regularly monitored. Landlords who are given access to the Landlord Portal are also given Trusted Partner status which allows them to make recommendations on whether an MPTL should be put in place. All APA recommendations from Trusted Partners will be implemented in good faith by DWP.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for rolling out (a) Pava pepper spray and (b) rigid police-style handcuffs across the prison estate.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Our hardworking prison officers must have the tools to do their jobs and that’s why we’re rolling out body worn cameras, ‘police-style’ restraints, and trialling pepper spray. We keep a close eye on the threats officers face to make sure they have what they need.
We are currently piloting PAVA Spray, this will inform any decision on the further issue of PAVA to prison officers.
Rigid Bar Handcuffs will be issued to prisons to replace the current ratchet cuffs. This will happen over 18 – 36 months in order to ensure staff are fully trained on how to use them.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for International Development:
What steps she is taking to promote value for money in aid spending.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
It is vital that aid spending delivers value for money. I have set a challenge that we ensure aid money is not just spent well, but cannot be spent better.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether letters of support from Members of Parliament (a) are considered for and (b) have an effect on decisions on a claimant's (i) mandatory reconsideration and (ii) tribunal appeal for (A) employment support allowance and (B) personal independence payment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
At mandatory reconsideration all evidence that had been considered at the initial decision stage is reviewed and, crucially, the claimant is prompted to provide any further evidence that the initial decision maker had not considered. If a claimant remains dissatisfied with the decision on their claim following mandatory reconsideration and proceeds to appeal, all previously submitted evidence will be reviewed, as will any evidence that is subsequently submitted and passed on to the Department.
It is important to note that decisions on benefit entitlement are made in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions and the decision maker’s consideration of the available evidence. A letter of support from a Member of Parliament would be considered on its own merits alongside any other available evidence.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken to build new homes.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
New homes should be built out as soon as possible once planning permission is granted. Under this Government, new house building starts are at their highest levels for nine years – we are building on progress by revising the National Planning Policy Framework, diversifying the market to increase the pace of development, and have commissioned my Rt Hon Friend, the member for West Dorset, to lead a review of build out rates.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at what age a person with dementia is eligible for benefit entitlement as a result of that condition.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Entitlement to benefit is not dependent on a specific diagnosis, meaning that claimants may apply at any age above the minimum age requirement specific to each individual benefit claimed.
For those diagnosed with dementia, once the impact is such that a person has care or mobility needs which may give rise to additional costs, they may apply for a disability benefit.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Education:
What steps his Department is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We have been strengthening the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system through the biggest programme of reforms in a generation. We have legislated to improve the system and have invested £341 million since 2014 to help ensure the reforms make a real difference. We will continue to build on this, so that every child has the chance to fulfil their potential.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
Whether universal credit claimants will lose money if they receive a disability premium in addition to income-based benefits.
Answered by Sarah Newton
We simplified and rationised the various, complex disability premiums that exist in the legacy system and anyone in the Support Group who only qualifies for the Enhanced Disability Premium, will be better off in Universal Credit by over £90 per month.
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners in England and Wales were prosecuted for possession of a weapon while in prison in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, c) 2016 and (d) 2017 to date.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Serious Crime Act 2015 introduced an offence of unauthorised possession in prison of a knife or offensive weapon. Data on proceedings in 2015 and 2016 is available on the gov.uk website.
Data on proceedings in 2017 is not yet available.