Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to protect pension savers in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency from pension scams.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Government works closely with regulators, industry and law enforcement partners to monitor emerging scam risks, identify new threats and ensure that appropriate protections are in place for pension savers.
The Conditions for Pension Transfers Regulations form a key element of those protections. Providing important safeguards against pension scams by enabling trustees and scheme managers to pause or prevent a transfer where there are indicators that the transfer may present a risk.
Earlier this year, the Government consulted on reforms to the regulations following concerns about the potential misuse of Small Self-Administered Schemes. Having carefully considered the responses received, we have today published our response, outlining a targeted package of measures to address identified risks, improve existing safeguards, and enhance protections for pension savers. The Government Response is available at the following link: Government response to the public consultation on proposals to amend the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Conditions for Transfers) Regulations 2021 - GOV.UK
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to specialist employment support for disabled veterans in South Lanarkshire.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions supports disabled veterans in South Lanarkshire through a dedicated Armed Forces Champion (AFC) covering the local Jobcentre Plus district. The AFC provides tailored employment and health-related support, benefits advice, and assistance in overcoming barriers to work, helping disabled veterans access the support and services available to them.
Disabled veterans may be eligible for a range of support, including disability and health-related benefits, income-related benefits and compensation schemes for injuries or illnesses attributable to military service. The AFC also supports veterans by connecting them with local partners and specialist organisations. By developing strong links with services such as Defence Medical Welfare Services, Veterans First Point and Lanarkshire Armed Services Advice, we are better able to support veterans through coordinated referrals, helping them access the specialist assistance they need and reducing barriers to support.
The AFC also participates in the Lanarkshire Firm Base, led by North and South Lanarkshire local authorities, which brings together local government, the Armed Forces, NHS services, charities, and employers to promote the aims of the Armed Forces Covenant and support serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Participation in this network enables us to raise awareness of the Armed Forces Champion role, strengthen relationships with key partners, identify additional sources of support for veterans, and develop collaborative opportunities that enhance the range and quality of services available to the Armed Forces community.
Through attendance at these meetings, we have identified a newly launched Veterans Hub run by an Armed Forces charity supporting members of the Armed Forces community with their mental health. We are exploring opportunities for future partnership working, including the potential to deliver support and engagement activities within the Hub and strengthen referral pathways for veterans.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency receive Carer’s Allowance.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
In Scotland, Carer's Allowance has been replaced by Carer Support Payment.
Carer’s Allowance is devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Social Security Scotland publishes Carer Support Payment statistics, but the published dataset does not provide a Westminster parliamentary constituency breakdown.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
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 pensioners in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency who received an increased pension as a result of the State Pension uprating in April 2026.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Please find information on the number of State Pension recipients in the Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency at DWP Stat-Xplore.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of waiting times for Pension Credit claims made by residents in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to provide Jobcentre Plus services in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency in future.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Jobcentre Services in Hamilton and Clyde Valley are provided from Hamilton and Lanark Jobcentre Plus.
Through Jobcentre Plus, Work Coaches offer personalised advice to help individuals secure roles which reflect their skills, qualifications and prior experience, alongside targeted job-search support. In addition, we signpost to services delivered in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, colleges, employers, and Scottish Government’s ‘No One Left Behind’ approach through Local Employability Partnerships. Those aged 16 to 24 also benefit from specialist Youth Work Coaches, employment programmes, and the Government's Youth Guarantee, which supports young people to access education, training, apprenticeships, and work.
In addition, we are currently exploring outreach opportunities within Hamilton, including within family hubs, alongside South Lanarkshire Council.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
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 young people in Scotland who will be supported through the Youth Guarantee.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.
This includes the expansion of Youth Hubs across Great Britain. As of 16 September 2026, there are 9 Youth Hubs open in Scotland with a further 19 planned to open by 2029. This investment also supports the introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres, to provide earlier and more intensive support to 16–24-year-olds on Universal Credit.
Our investment will create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn including 300,000 additional opportunities to gain workplace experience and training and up to 200,000 additional employment opportunities, through a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers hiring 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, which is available in Central and East Scotland, rolling out nationally from November 2026. All young people in Scotland who meet the eligibility criteria will be offered the relevant support.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help support young disabled people into work in Scotland.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
With around one million young people not in education, employment or training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. In Scotland, health, skills, careers and employment support are partially devolved to the Scottish Parliament, resulting in a mix of Scottish and UK-wide control. Our officials work closely with those in the Scottish Parliament, sharing best practice on providing employment support to disabled people.
We set out our plan for the Pathways to Work Guarantee in our Pathways to Work Green Paper and we are building towards our guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits. The guarantee is backed by £1 billion a year of new, additional funding by the end of the decade. We anticipate the guarantee, once fully rolled out, will include: a support conversation to identify next steps, one-to-one caseworker support, periodic engagement, and an offer of specialist long-term work health and skills support. The Scottish Government received consequential funding in the usual way.
Disabled people and people with health conditions can face a wide range of unique, yet intersecting barriers, relating to not just their health, but their employment and circumstance. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems. Existing measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual.
Youth Hubs, Youth Guarantee Gateway, work experience and training, jobs grant are available across Great Britain. This includes the expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain, and the introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres, to provide earlier and more intensive support to 16–24-year-olds on Universal Credit. Our investment will create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn including 300,000 additional opportunities to gain workplace experience and training and up to 200,000 additional employment opportunities, through a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers hiring 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job. The apprenticeship system is devolved in Scotland.
We recognise the crisis of participation that Alan Milburn has so clearly laid out in his interim report. We will use this interim report to continue to build our reforms and look forward to final recommendations in the Autumn.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners receive Pension Credit in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The latest available Pension Credit caseload statistics show that in November 2025, there were 2,740 Pension Credit recipients in Hamilton and Clyde Valley parliamentary constituency (rounded to the nearest 10). This data is available via: Stat-Xplore.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
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 children in Hamilton and Clyde Valley who have benefitted from the removal of the Universal Credit two-child limit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The requested information is published and available in table 13B, row 591, column K at: Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2026 - GOV.UK.