Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to ensure that those who work (a) directly or (b) indirectly in her Department, and relevant agencies and public bodies, are paid at least the (i) UK Real Living Wage outside of Greater London or (ii) London Living Wage inside of Greater London, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
DWP and its associated Arm’s Length Bodies, adhere to the mandatory National Living Wage. This government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2022, the National Living Wage increased to £9.50 per hour. By 2024, the Government have committed that the National Living Wage will reach 66% of median UK earnings.
As of 12/07/2022 The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has 23 individuals earning below the Real Living Wage. TPR will keep this position under review. TPR, as above, adhere to the mandatory National Living Wage.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) direct employees, (b) contractors and (c) agency workers who work in her Department and relevant agencies and public bodies receive a wage below that of the (i) UK Real Living Wage outside of Greater London and (ii) London Living Wage inside of Greater London, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Ealing North constituency.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
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 trends in the rate of homelessness exemptions to the Shared Accommodation Rate for people aged between 25 to 35 years olds.
Answered by Will Quince
No assessment has been made of the trends in the rate of homelessness exemptions to the Shared Accommodation Rate for people aged between 25 to 35 years old.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons exemptions from the shared accommodation rate are not available for people aged under 25 who have experienced homelessness.
Answered by Will Quince
An exemption from the shared accommodation rate for those aged 25-34 who have spent three months or more in homeless hostel was introduced in 2012 when the age limit for the shared accommodation rate was increased from 25 to 35. The exemption addressed concerns raised by the Social Security and Advisory Committee about the impact of these changes on rough sleepers. The exemption is designed to target people receiving a sustained programme of rehabilitation rather than people who have sporadic, short term says.
Housing Benefit rules should reflect the housing expectations of people of a similar age not in receipt of benefits. For other individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available. DHP funding, from 2011 over £1 billion to date and an additional £40 million for Discretionary Housing Payments in 2020/21, will enable local authorities to consider individual circumstances and provide longer-term support for more vulnerable claimants.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made has made of the potential cost to the public purse of extending the exemption from the shared accommodation rate for people aged between 25 and 35 years old who have experienced homelessness to people aged under 25 who have experienced homelessness.
Answered by Will Quince
The cost of extending the homelessness exemption from the shared accommodation rate to people aged under 25 would be £5m in 2021/22 rounded to nearest £5m.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what evidence base was used to determine that people aged between 25 and 35 who have experienced homelessness should be eligible for an exemption from the local housing allowance shared accommodation rate and that people aged under 25 should not.
Answered by Will Quince
An exemption from the shared accommodation rate for those aged 25-34 who have spent three months or more in homeless hostel was introduced in 2012 when the age limit for the shared accommodation rate was increased from 25 to 35. The exemption addressed concerns raised by the Social Security and Advisory Committee about the impact of these changes on rough sleepers. The exemption is designed to target people receiving a sustained programme of rehabilitation rather than people who have sporadic, short term says.
Housing Benefit rules should reflect the housing expectations of people of a similar age not in receipt of benefits. For other individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available. DHP funding, from 2011 over £1 billion to date and an additional £40 million for Discretionary Housing Payments in 2020/21, will enable local authorities to consider individual circumstances and provide longer-term support for more vulnerable claimants.