Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
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 potential impact of the reforms to Personal Independence Payment outlined in the Pathways to Work Green Paper on people aged under 25 with cancer.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAc) under 16 and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for young people from age 16 are assessed based on the additional care/daily living and mobility needs arising from a long-term disability or health condition, rather than a diagnosis of a condition or disability itself.
Applications under the special rules for end of life, where life expectancy is 12 months or less, are unaffected by the planned eligibility changes to PIP to introduce a new requirement to score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity. Claims are fast tracked, and the person is eligible for the higher-rate care/daily living component from the date of claim.
For your reassurance, there will be no immediate changes to PIP eligibility. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met.
We are also consulting on raising the age at which young people move from DLAc to PIP, to better align with other key milestones in the transition to adulthood and support available.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) qualifying period and (b) delays in processing applications for disability benefits on carers of children and young people with cancer who are unable to apply for (i) carers benefits and (ii) other associated support until the disability benefits have been awarded.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested on the number of delayed applications is not collected and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
It is a long standing principle that Carer’s Allowance can only be awarded once a decision has been made to award the “trigger” disability benefit to the person being cared for, but the award of Carer’s Allowance can be backdated to the date that the disability benefit is payable from.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of (a) children under 16 and (b) young people between the ages of 16 and 25 are successful in their (i) PIP and (ii) DLA applications at (A) initial application and (B) appeal stage in (1) Bournemouth and (2) the rest of the UK.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Between October 2019 and September 2024, for claimants aged 16 to 25 inclusive, in England and Wales, there were 346,000 PIP clearances that were awarded at initial decision, which was 60% of initial PIP clearances for that age range. For the same clearances, 15,000 (3% of initial clearances) were awarded at the mandatory reconsideration stage (between the initial decision and appeal stage), 5,000 (1% of initial decisions) were lapsed, where the Department revises its decision in favour of the claimant before reaching tribunal, and 9,000 (2% of initial decisions) were overturned in favour of the claimant at appeal.
Between October 2019 and September 2024, for claimants aged 16 to 25 in Bournemouth, there were 1,090 PIP clearances that were awarded at initial decision, which was 57% of PIP clearances for that age range. For the same clearances, 50 (3% of initial clearances) were awarded at the mandatory reconsideration stage (between the initial decision and appeal stage), 20 (1% of initial clearances) were lapsed, where the Department revises its decision in favour of the claimants before reaching tribunal, and 30 (2% of initial clearances) were overturned in favour of the claimant at appeal.
Claimants aged under 16 cannot claim PIP.
For Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the information requested is not readily available for the specified geographical breakdowns. To provide this would incur a disproportionate cost. We have provided the information requested for England & Wales below:
(a) In FY24/25, 179,000 normal claims were awarded DLA for children. This is equivalent to a success rate of 84%.
(b) The latest Tribunal Statistics by Ministry of Justice indicates there were 1,390 decisions in favour of claimants that were cleared at hearing, equivalent to a success rate of 59%, between Q1-Q3 of FY2024/25.
Notes:
- Figures provided above are for PIP claims within DWP policy ownership and therefore exclude claimants in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for end of life claimants, and is for both new claims and DLA reassessment claims.
- PIP data has been rounded to the nearest 1,000 for England and Wales level data, and rounded to the nearest 10 for data relating specifically to Bournemouth.
- Percentages have been rounded to the nearest percent.
- Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
- PIP data has been expanded to a 5-year time span to provide adequate data specific to Bournemouth.
- Appeals data is currently available to the end of December 2024. Because of this, clearances (which are available to the end of January 2025) have had to be limited to the end of September 2024 to allow time for a claimant to go through the appeal process which takes an average of 3 months.
- Appeals data taken from the DWP PIP computer system’s management information. Therefore, this appeals data may differ from that held by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service for various reasons such as delays in data recording and other methodological differences in collating and preparing statistics.
- Not all Tribunal appeals will relate to the outcome of the PIP assessment, but other aspects of the PIP process.
- The Local Authority of Bournemouth was used to identify claimants in Bournemouth. The Local Authority geography relates to the origin of the claim (i.e. derived from claimant’s postcode) rather than the location of where the tribunal was held.
- Figures for DLA are rounded to the nearest thousand in (a) and nearest 10 in (b).
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of back-dating payments for disability benefits to cover the qualifying period for people with cancer diagnoses.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The qualifying period is an important part of the eligibility process for disability benefits and helps establish that the health condition or disability, and resulting needs, are of a long-standing nature.
Payment commences once the three-month qualifying period has been satisfied. Claims can be submitted before this point and consideration is always given to whether any of the qualifying period has been satisfied prior to the date of claim. The qualifying period commences from the point that needs arise, which can be before a diagnosis of cancer or any other health condition
Individuals with a terminal illness, with twelve-months or less to live are exempt from the qualifying period.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she plans to take in the National Cancer plan to improve diagnosis times for children and young people with cancer.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, including children and young people. To achieve this, the NHS has delivered an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.
To support timely and effective referrals, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has set out detailed guidance for general practitioners on the symptoms of cancer in children and young people, recommending referral within 48 hours for those presenting with a range of potential cancer symptoms.
On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with cancer. The Taskforce is exploring opportunities for improvement across genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, patient experience, and early detection and diagnosis.
The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on improving outcomes for cancer patients, including for children and young people with cancer, and will highlight how the Department will support the NHS to improve diagnosis rates for people in all parts of England.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include provisions in the NHS 10-Year Plan on the (a) funding, (b) planning, (c) provision and (d) commissioning at (i) national and (ii) regional level of children’s palliative care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We want a society where every child and young person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receive the care they need when and where they need it, including those who need palliative and end of life care. It is too early to say exactly what the 10-Year Health Plan will look like, but we expect palliative and end of life care to benefit from the plan’s three big shifts.
As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we have been carefully considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with extensive input at both national and regional levels. In February, I met key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan. Additionally, I recently met my Hon. Friend the Member for York Central, and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, to discuss the Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care’s first report. I welcome the report’s recent publication.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to include multi-year funding for voluntary sector providers of children’s (a) palliative care and (b) hospices in the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The 10-Year Health Plan will set out how the Government will fix our broken National Health Service. Too many babies, children, and young people, including those towards the end of their lives, are not receiving the support and care they deserve, and we know that waiting times for services are far too long. We are determined to change that, by changing the way services operate, rather than by simply funding more of the same.
Whilst it is too soon to say what will be in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are continuing to support the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the Children and Young People’s Hospice Grant.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for children's palliative care; and what plans he has to increase the level of funding available.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.
Whilst the majority of palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.
In recognition of this, children and young people’s hospices will receive £26 million in revenue funding for 2025/26, once again via ICBs. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.
Additionally, we are also supporting both the child and adult hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for 2024/25 and 2025/26, to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.
In February, I met with key palliative care and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with stakeholders in (a) higher education, (b) University and College Union, (c) Universities UK and (d) Bournemouth University on recent staffing reductions; and what steps she is taking to ensure that staff are adequately protected in accordance with employment laws.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government welcomes international students who enrich our university campuses, forge lifelong friendships with our domestic students and become global ambassadors for the UK. The government expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. We have a world class higher education (HE) sector with four universities in the top 10 and 15 in the top 100, alongside a wide array of high quality institutions which can offer a fulfilling and enjoyable experience to international students from around the world.
The department recognises that the Office for Students (OfS), which is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial sustainability of English HE providers, has identified reliance on international student fee income as a risk. In its most recent update on the sector’s financial health, published in November 2024, the OfS found that international recruitment is significantly below the sector’s previous expectations. While we agree with the OfS’ assessment that more providers will need to adapt their business models to protect their financial stability, we are clear that high quality international students are welcome in the UK.
While the sector is autonomous and independent, the government is determined to secure the future of our world leading HE sector. That is why we have taken decisive action to support providers in moving towards a more stable financial footing.
In March, Professor Edward Peck was appointed as substantive Chair of the OfS. Professor Peck will continue the excellent work of interim Chair, Sir David Behan, focusing on the sector’s financial sustainability and increasing opportunities in HE. The department continues to work closely with the OfS in order to better understand the sector’s changing financial landscape.
Moreover, in November, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits in line with forecast inflation. The maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535. In return for the increased investment we are asking students to make, we expect the sector to deliver the very best outcomes, both for those students and for the country.
The government also recognises the impact that financial pressures are having on the HE workforce. We are aware that some providers, including Bournemouth University and the Arts University Bournemouth, are making difficult decisions around staffing in order to safeguard their financial sustainability. Given universities are independent, they are responsible for pay and provision of staff and the government does not have a role in intervening. However, we expect providers to work with staff, using their knowledge and experience to help identify how best to reduce unnecessary spend. All efficiency measures taken by the sector should provide better long term value both for students and the country.
This government is determined to build a HE system fit for the future. Ministers and departmental officials remain dedicated to engaging with the OfS, HE unions, the employer body and the wider sector. Regular discussions are being held to gain a deeper understanding of the issues impacting HE providers, students, and staff. This collaborative effort will contribute to the development of the department’s plan for HE reform, which we will publish in the summer.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of visa policies on university finances.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government welcomes international students who enrich our university campuses, forge lifelong friendships with our domestic students and become global ambassadors for the UK. The government expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. We have a world class higher education (HE) sector with four universities in the top 10 and 15 in the top 100, alongside a wide array of high quality institutions which can offer a fulfilling and enjoyable experience to international students from around the world.
The department recognises that the Office for Students (OfS), which is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial sustainability of English HE providers, has identified reliance on international student fee income as a risk. In its most recent update on the sector’s financial health, published in November 2024, the OfS found that international recruitment is significantly below the sector’s previous expectations. While we agree with the OfS’ assessment that more providers will need to adapt their business models to protect their financial stability, we are clear that high quality international students are welcome in the UK.
While the sector is autonomous and independent, the government is determined to secure the future of our world leading HE sector. That is why we have taken decisive action to support providers in moving towards a more stable financial footing.
In March, Professor Edward Peck was appointed as substantive Chair of the OfS. Professor Peck will continue the excellent work of interim Chair, Sir David Behan, focusing on the sector’s financial sustainability and increasing opportunities in HE. The department continues to work closely with the OfS in order to better understand the sector’s changing financial landscape.
Moreover, in November, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits in line with forecast inflation. The maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535. In return for the increased investment we are asking students to make, we expect the sector to deliver the very best outcomes, both for those students and for the country.
The government also recognises the impact that financial pressures are having on the HE workforce. We are aware that some providers, including Bournemouth University and the Arts University Bournemouth, are making difficult decisions around staffing in order to safeguard their financial sustainability. Given universities are independent, they are responsible for pay and provision of staff and the government does not have a role in intervening. However, we expect providers to work with staff, using their knowledge and experience to help identify how best to reduce unnecessary spend. All efficiency measures taken by the sector should provide better long term value both for students and the country.
This government is determined to build a HE system fit for the future. Ministers and departmental officials remain dedicated to engaging with the OfS, HE unions, the employer body and the wider sector. Regular discussions are being held to gain a deeper understanding of the issues impacting HE providers, students, and staff. This collaborative effort will contribute to the development of the department’s plan for HE reform, which we will publish in the summer.