Laura Pidcock
Labour - Former Member for North West Durham
First elected: 8th June 2017
Left House: 6th November 2019 (Defeated)
3 Former APPG memberships
Mental Health, Racism, Universal CreditDivision Voting information
Laura Pidcock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Labour No votes vs 119 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 415 Noes - 119
All Debates
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(30 debate interactions)
(11 debate interactions)
(8 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(64 debate contributions)
(49 debate contributions)
(17 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,288 words contributed)
(1 words contributed)
Latest EDMs signed by Laura Pidcock
THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE TEMPLE OF BOOM VENUE TO LEEDS
Tabled by: Richard Burgon (Independent - Leeds East)That this House notes the significant contribution that live music makes to the UK's cultural life and economy; recognises that in the past decade the UK has seen nationwide closures of music venues; further notes the concerns raised and recommendations made in the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee report, …
(Most recent: 4 Jul 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 23
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Independent: 1
FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL DAY 4 MAY 2019
Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)That this House joins with firefighters across the United Kingdom on Firefighters Memorial Day in remembering the bravery and sacrifice of over 2,300 firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty; extends its sympathies especially on this memorial day to all the bereaved families of fallen firefighters; …
(Most recent: 8 May 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 55
Conservative: 7
Independent: 6
Scottish National Party: 6
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Plaid Cymru: 2
Liberal Democrat: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Laura Pidcock, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Laura Pidcock has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Laura Pidcock has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Laura Pidcock has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
1 Bill co-sponsored by Laura Pidcock
Trade Union (Access to Workplaces) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Faisal Rashid (Lab)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)6 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Laura Pidcock's BEIS questions)The Government values and recognises the important role that the Post Office plays in North West Durham and other communities across the North East and the UK. This is why we committed in our 2017 Manifesto to safeguard the Post Office network and protect existing rural services. This strategy, backed by Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010, has delivered a branch network that is at its most stable and accessible in decades, with over 11,500 branches.
The Post Office reports annually on the size and shape of the network; the most recent report can be found at http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/modernising-post-office. The report shows the number of branches in the network so that the change can be seen year on
year.
The information requested is set out below. The vast majority of the Post Office network is operated on an agency/franchise basis with branches located in retail premises. The figures show the number of Directly Managed Branches operated by the Post Office and the number of Agency branches.
Number of open post offices in 2010 | Directly Managed Branches | Agency branches | Total branches |
North West Durham Constituency | 1 | 29 | 30 |
North East Government Office Region | 10 | 481 | 491 |
UK | 373 | 11532 | 11905 |
Number of open post offices in 2018 | Directly Managed Branches | Agency branches | Total branches |
North West Durham Constituency | 1 | 29 | 30 |
North East Government Office Region | 6 | 484 | 490 |
UK | 262 | 11285 | 11547 |
Source: Post Office Limited
The Government values and recognises the important role that the Post Office plays in North West Durham and other communities across the North East and the UK. This is why we committed in our 2017 Manifesto to safeguard the Post Office network and protect existing rural services. This strategy, backed by Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010, has delivered a branch network that is at its most stable and accessible in decades, with over 11,500 branches.
The Post Office reports annually on the size and shape of the network; the most recent report can be found at http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/modernising-post-office. The report shows the number of branches in the network so that the change can be seen year on
year.
The information requested is set out below. The vast majority of the Post Office network is operated on an agency/franchise basis with branches located in retail premises. The figures show the number of Directly Managed Branches operated by the Post Office and the number of Agency branches.
Number of open post offices in 2010 | Directly Managed Branches | Agency branches | Total branches |
North West Durham Constituency | 1 | 29 | 30 |
North East Government Office Region | 10 | 481 | 491 |
UK | 373 | 11532 | 11905 |
Number of open post offices in 2018 | Directly Managed Branches | Agency branches | Total branches |
North West Durham Constituency | 1 | 29 | 30 |
North East Government Office Region | 6 | 484 | 490 |
UK | 262 | 11285 | 11547 |
Source: Post Office Limited
Before responding to the Knight Review of electronic balloting for industrial action the Government is required by Section 4 of the Trade Union Act 2016 to “consult relevant organisations, including professionals from expert associations, to seek their advice and recommendations.” We are currently assessing the best means of obtaining this advice.
3 Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Questions
(View all Laura Pidcock's DCMS questions)We do not hold this information. The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee.
Neither the Department, nor the Gambling Commission, hold information on gambling addiction rates in individual constituencies.
The Government has committed over £12m to support the Digital Durham Superfast Broadband Project. In 2011, only 0.7% of premises in the North West Durham constituency had access to superfast broadband compared to over 93% of premises today. For all premises that do not have superfast broadband coverage the Government will ensure universal broadband of at least 10Mbps
All homes and businesses which are unable to receive a speed of at least 2Mbps can benefit from support from the Better Broadband Scheme. Further information on the Scheme can be found on our website (https://basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk/guide-to-better-broadband-subsidy-scheme.pdf).
We estimate that around 50,000 more children will benefit from free school meals (FSM) by 2022, compared to the previous system.
No child will lose their entitlement to FSM because of these changes. As well as the additional 50,000 pupils mentioned above, hundreds of thousands more children will benefit from the generous protections we will provide.
The same funding arrangements apply to 16 to 19-year olds education in different types of institutions and for different programmes, including academic and vocational. The Department for Education and its agencies have previously considered using a sparsity factor for 16 to 19-year olds education (given a factor of this kind is used in 5 to 16-year olds school funding). However, a sparsity factor was not introduced into the 16 to 19-year olds funding system.
16 to 19-year olds education is different in nature to 5 to 16-year olds education. There is a more diverse set of education and training providers to consider, offering a wider choice of programmes. Post-16 students often travel further to access these education options. We recognise that the cost and availability of transport can be an issue for students. Local authorities have a duty to publish a transport policy statement each year that sets out the travel arrangements they will make to support young people to access 16 to 19-year olds education, together with a duty to encourage and support young people to participate in education and training.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund enables disadvantaged students to access funding to meet the costs of participating in education and training, and can be used to contribute to transport costs.
The same funding arrangements apply to 16 to 19-year olds education in different types of institutions and for different programmes, including academic and vocational. The Department for Education and its agencies have previously considered using a sparsity factor for 16 to 19-year olds education (given a factor of this kind is used in 5 to 16-year olds school funding). However, a sparsity factor was not introduced into the 16 to 19-year olds funding system.
16 to 19-year olds education is different in nature to 5 to 16-year olds education. There is a more diverse set of education and training providers to consider, offering a wider choice of programmes. Post-16 students often travel further to access these education options. We recognise that the cost and availability of transport can be an issue for students. Local authorities have a duty to publish a transport policy statement each year that sets out the travel arrangements they will make to support young people to access 16 to 19-year olds education, together with a duty to encourage and support young people to participate in education and training.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund enables disadvantaged students to access funding to meet the costs of participating in education and training, and can be used to contribute to transport costs.
The Department published full details of the school and high needs national funding formulae, and the impact they will have for every local authority here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-funding-formula-tables-for-schools-and-high-needs.
The national funding formula would allocate an additional 2.8% to schools in County Durham, if implemented in full based on 2017-18 pupil data. This represents an increase of £8.0 million. The actual funding that County Durham will receive will be determined each year on the basis of the most recent pupil data available.
As the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has said, the additional £1.3 billion we are allocating to schools funding means that overall funding per pupil across the country will now be maintained in real terms up to 2020.
Schools in districts identified as rural by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs would gain on average 3.9%. Of these, remote schools that attract additional funding through the sparsity factor will gain on average 5.0%, which ensures that the higher costs of these schools are recognised.
These figures are calculated as if the national funding formula had been implemented in full in 2017-18, with no transitional arrangements.
Schools and colleges should be safe places for all children to learn and we are clear that sexual harassment should never be tolerated in a school.
Schools are under a statutory duty, set out in the department’s guidance, Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE), to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. KCSIE sets out what staff should know and do to protect children. It also sets out that schools should have an effective child protection policy. The policy should include procedures to minimise the risk of peer on peer abuse and how allegations will be investigated and dealt with.
Our recent Pupil, Parent and Carers omnibus survey (July 2017) shows that 8% of the 857 female respondents said that a boy had touched them inappropriately and without permission at least once or twice in the last year. 28% of female respondents to the same survey said that they had experienced someone saying something sexual or sexist to them at least once or twice in the last year.
We do not hold data on incidents of sexual harassment in schools in specific parliamentary constituencies.
Ofsted inspectors will always consider whether safeguarding arrangements are effective and, if safeguarding is inadequate, this will be reflected in the overall rating of the school.
The hon. member for North West Durham will be aware, as discussed in the debate on sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools on 2 November 2017, of the steps the department will be taking to address the issues. We will be publishing interim advice for schools this term. The advice will cover child in child sexual violence and sexual harassment. We will also launch a public consultation, this term, on proposed updates to KCSIE. We intend to publish revised guidance, for information, early in the summer term 2018. This will then be commenced and come into force at the start of the September 2018 school year.
As part of our work preparing to make a success of our departure from the European Union, we are carrying out a broad range of sectoral analysis, in including agriculture, as you would expect a responsible Government to do.
Leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for UK agriculture. The Agriculture Bill will provide stability to farmers as we leave the EU. It will support our farmers to compete domestically and on the global market, allowing us to grow, sell and export more great British food. The bill includes measures to ensure that after we leave the EU, and therefore the Common Agricultural Policy, we have an effective system in place to support UK farmers and protect our natural environment.
The Government is committed to getting the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a deal that works for all parts of the UK, including the North East. We will continue to engage with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy, and all regions of the UK, in order to inform our negotiations with the EU.
The UK has world leading standards of food safety and quality, backed by a rigorous legislative framework. The EU (Withdrawal) Bill will ensure we are able to maintain these high standards once the UK leaves the European Union.
The Government is committed to ensuring high food standards at home, and promoting high standards internationally. We will ensure there is a food standards framework in place that protects consumer interests, maximises confidence, and facilitates international trade.
The law requires anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK to be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied.
The DVLA visits number plate suppliers to monitor compliance with the legal requirements. The DVLA also works closely with both the police and trading standards to share intelligence and to support investigations and prosecutions of suppliers who do not comply with the legal requirements.
Enforcement of the law relating to the display of number plates is a matter for the police. The police can issue a fixed penalty if a vehicle is displaying an illegal number plate. When notified by the police that an offence has been committed, the DVLA will write to the registered keeper of the vehicle concerned. This letter will notify the keeper that the registration number must be correctly displayed or it will be permanently withdrawn.
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department has not made an assessment of the equity of the level of funding for public transport throughout the UK.
The Department does not allocate funding to transport on a ‘per head of population’ basis. Decisions are made based on a rigorous and fair appraisal process that ensures spending goes to the projects and programmes where it is most needed and delivers greatest value-for-money for both taxpayers and passengers.
Data from the HM Treasury Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) provides figures for total public expenditure on transport and how this varies across regions. The latest publication is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/country-and-regional-analysis-2017.
The Government is providing significant levels of funding to support public transport across the North East. For example, we have committed to provide £337 million towards the cost of replacing the entire rolling stock fleet on the Tyne and Wear Metro. My Department has also provided both revenue and capital funding to the Metro since its inception in 1980, and currently provides £55 million a year towards day-to-day operational costs and an Asset Renewal Programme.
We are also taking steps to improve rail connectivity in the North East. The Northern franchise will see a new high quality Northern Connect service operate at least 10 times per day between Middlesbrough and Carlisle via Newcastle, with Hexham and the MetroCentre becoming Northern Connect stations with staff, WiFi and catering outlets. The Transpennine franchise will see the introduction of a new hourly service between Newcastle and Edinburgh, along with an increase in the frequency of trains between Newcastle and York/Leeds/Manchester from one to two trains per hour.
The North East will also benefit from the £250 million being paid this year to support bus services in England through Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG). Around £40 million of this BSOG funding is paid directly to local authorities, rather than bus operators to help deliver bus services. The Government also provides almost £1 billion of funding for the concessionary bus pass every year, and remains committed to the scheme.
In addition, we have recently announced that the Tees Valley Combined Authority will receive a per capita allocation of £59 million from the new £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund to improve intra-urban connectivity. Other cities in the North East without a Metro Mayor may be able to benefit from the competitive part of the Fund, which will be launched shortly.
The bus market outside London is deregulated and decisions regarding service provision is primarily a commercial matter for bus operators. Decisions on subsidised bus services are a matter for individual English local authorities, in the light of their other spending priorities.
However, my Department provides around £40m of Bus Subsidy Operators Grant (BSOG) directly to English local authorities for local bus services, of which Durham receives around £347,000. BSOG plays an especially important role in protecting services in rural areas by helping extend the bus network, providing residents with vital links to local services.
The Bus Services Act 2017 introduces a number of new tools to help local authorities improve local bus services in their area. Through partnership arrangements we have enabled local authorities and bus operators to work constructively to provide better services for passengers.
The department does not have any plans to reinstate the train station in Consett.
In line with our devolution policies, it is for the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and local transport authorities in this area to decide what are the priority projects to support economic development and to secure appropriate funding - including drawing on that made available by Government for example through the Local Growth Fund - to take them forward.
Proposals for new stations need first to secure the support of a local promoter, normally the local transport authority, to undertake studies of the potential additional passenger demand, train service options, economic benefits, capital and any operating subsidy requirements before the addition of such services to a franchise agreement could be considered.
The Department makes use of a range of channels to increase understanding of Universal Credit through social media and wider advertising. This includes signposting to sources of information which are written in an ‘easy-to-read’ format to help people make decisions on whether Universal Credit is appropriate for their circumstances.
We publish information in two key locations to help improve awareness of, and how to claim Universal Credit, which can be found at the following websites:
https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/before-you-claim/
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants
If a person wishes to claim Universal Credit but requires assistance, they are clearly directed to either the Help to Claim service, or to the Universal Credit telephone helpline. Both can be useful to anyone who cannot use digital services.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support from helping people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. This service is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including welfare rights organisations, to ensure we gather and understand a diverse range of opinions, which helps us to design improvements to Universal Credit.
The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants, and wants the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.
Any digital claim can be treated as a non-digital claim. For instance, if a claimant’s circumstances change and contacting them digitally is no longer suitable for a short or significant period of time, agents can annotate the claim and take the same action as they would have if the claim had originally made as a non-digital claim.
We are already committed to placing Universal Credit guidance in the House of Commons Library and last updated it on 28 March 2019.
Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey
All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, and so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.
The Department makes use of a range of channels to increase understanding of Universal Credit through social media and wider advertising. This includes signposting to sources of information which are written in an ‘easy-to-read’ format to help people make decisions on whether Universal Credit is appropriate for their circumstances.
We publish information in two key locations to help improve awareness of, and how to claim Universal Credit, which can be found at the following websites:
https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/before-you-claim/
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants
If a person wishes to claim Universal Credit but requires assistance, they are clearly directed to either the Help to Claim service, or to the Universal Credit telephone helpline. Both can be useful to anyone who cannot use digital services.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support from helping people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. This service is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including welfare rights organisations, to ensure we gather and understand a diverse range of opinions, which helps us to design improvements to Universal Credit.
The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants, and wants the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.
We are already committed to placing Universal Credit guidance in the House’s Library and last updated it on 28 March 2019.
Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey
All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, and so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.
The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants, and wants the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.
We are already committed to placing Universal Credit guidance in the House’s Library and last updated it on 28 March 2019.
Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey
All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, and so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.
The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants, and wants the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.
We are already committed to placing Universal Credit guidance in the House’s Library and last updated it on 28 March 2019.
Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey
All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, and so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.
The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants, and wants the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.
We are already committed to placing Universal Credit guidance in the House’s Library and last updated it on 28 March 2019.
Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey
All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.
Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, and so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.
The Department has no plans, at present, to provide claimants with direct access to their previous claims.
A key reason a claimant cannot access a previous claim is that it could contain information the Department has an obligation to protect. This could include, for example, information about a previous partner. However, if a claimant, who has had a previous claim closed, needs to access their own information contained in previous statements or their journal, a case manager can access this information on their behalf and provide them with any information they might require.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
All calls taken by helpline staff and case managers in UCFS are recorded in full and are retrievable from our telephony provider based on the originating telephone number.
For callers with an active claim, agents will update the Universal Credit system with any relevant information from the call to allow for a continuous service across multiple interactions. Where a caller does not have an active claim this is not possible and the call recording would be the repository for the content of the call.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Information is not held on the number of home Work Capability Assessments (a) requested or (c) refused for Universal Credit claimants in the last 12 months.
However, I can confirm that over 1,000 home Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit claimants were (b) granted in the last 12 months.
We have had a number of workshops with stakeholders during which consent has been discussed. As we said in our response to the Social Security Advisory Committee, we will do further work on explicit consent. This activity will include working with claimants and their representatives to ensure the process works effectively for vulnerable claimants to access the service. We expect to complete this in the autumn.
In the event of a closed claim, claimants can still see their previous journal entries and payment statements in a read-only format.
If a claimant opens a new claim, this read-only access will no longer be accessible to the claimant. However, if a claimant, who has had a previous claim closed, needs to access their previous statements or their journal, a case manager can access them on their behalf and provide them with any information they might require.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Average Actual Clearance Times (AACT) for a Mandatory Reconsideration for a Carer’s Allowance claim are shown in the table below.
| Apr 2018 | May 2018 | Jun 2018 | Jul 2018 | Aug 2018 | Sep 2018 | Oct 2018 | Nov 2018 | Dec 2018 | Jan 2019 | Feb 2019 |
Average Actual Clearance Time (working days) | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 15.6 |
Source: Decision Making and Appeals Case Recorder (DMACR).
This is unpublished data based on internal management information. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.
The increase in clearance times in February 2019 was due to work being undertaken on the Carer’s Allowance backlog and this has resulted in more older cases impacting the AACT. This backlog is due to be cleared by the end of April 2019.
Due to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the number of assessments for Personal Independence Payment held in private gyms and spas is only held for the last two years, not the three that has been requested.
For the last two years for which data is available; covering March 2017 to February 2019, the total number of assessments held in private gyms and spas in (a) County Durham, (b) North East of England and (c) the UK is set out in the table below.
| March 2017 - Feb 2018 | March 2018 - Feb 2019 |
(a) County Durham | 6000 | 5300 |
(b) NE England | 6000 | 5300 |
(c) UK | 8800 | 7200 |
These numbers have been supplied direct from the provider and have been rounded to the nearest 100. The answers to (a) and (b) are the same as all assessments carried out in private gyms and spas in the North East of England are carried out in County Durham.
Capita do not carry out PIP assessments at private gyms or spa locations; the numbers included in this response are from Independent Assessment Services (IAS).
IAS uses its network of supply chain partners and their estates to help in the delivery of PIP consultations. All locations comply with the required contractual specifications and all of the sites used by IAS have been selected to ensure that they meet the standards set by the Department.
In the 2018 Autumn Budget, we committed to allowing DWP income-related legacy benefits to continue for two-weeks after a claim has been made to Universal Credit from July 2020. This measure will give around 1.1 million households a one-off gain of approximately £200 between 2020/21 and 2023/24.
The Department has committed to supporting all claimants who are moved on to Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process. The draft regulations, currently before Parliament, will deliver on our commitment to provide transitional protection to those who are managed migrated onto Universal Credit without a change in their circumstances. The Department already offers a range of support to claimants who migrate to Universal Credit, such as advances worth up to 100 per cent of their indicative award. Claimants may also be eligible for the two-week Universal Credit Transitional Housing Payment.
The Department will be introducing a Discretionary Hardship Payment to support those claimants who will be managed migrated as part of the pilot phase. The power for Discretionary Hardship Payments is broad and could be used to pay the equivalent of the two-week legacy run on to the 10,000 claimants who will be moved to Universal Credit as part of the piloting phase and who are in hardship on account of the absence of the run on. We will also have the discretion to make payments if any other issues related to managed migration have resulted in hardship.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
On 14 January 2019, we withdrew the draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018, and laid two new sets of regulations. The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 will allow the Department to begin the managed migration pilot phase. This pilot phase is to ensure that our systems and processes are working well. We have committed to reporting on our findings from the pilot before bringing forward legislation to continue with managed migration.
The regulations for the pilot phase are subject to Parliamentary approval and will be debated and voted on in due course.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
We have worked with HMRC and employers to ensure that they are aware of the actions they need to take to reflect an employee’s earnings. Guidance was issued to employers by HMRC in December on Real Time Information reporting obligations for payments made early over the festive period.
The Department’s Universal Credit guidance for staff on earnings and the actions to take is regularly reviewed. Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons Library and the Department is committed to refreshing this at regular intervals.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
On 11 January 2019, Written Statement HCWS1243 confirmed our plans for a pilot phase for the managed migration of 10,000 claimants from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit.
The Department will proceed with care and attention to ensure that every single claimant moved accesses Universal Credit smoothly and receives the support they need during the transition. The draft regulations, which are currently before Parliament, contain provision to provide transitional protection to those who are moved through managed migration onto Universal Credit without a change in circumstances. This will ensure that these claimants receive the same level of entitlement to Universal Credit as they were entitled to on legacy benefits.
The aim of the pilot is to ensure that claimants on all legacy benefits, with a range of differing characteristics are successfully migrated to Universal Credit. The Department is currently working closely with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders to design the managed migration process and we are considering our approach to the pilot, including which groups or individuals we might begin to migrate first.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
On 11 January 2019, Written Statement HCWS1243 confirmed our plans for a pilot phase for the managed migration of 10,000 claimants from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit.
The Department will proceed with care and attention to ensure that every single claimant moved accesses Universal Credit smoothly and receives the support they need during the transition. The draft regulations, which are currently before Parliament, contain provision to provide transitional protection to those who are moved through managed migration onto Universal Credit without a change in circumstances. This will ensure that these claimants receive the same level of entitlement to Universal Credit as they were entitled to on legacy benefits.
The aim of the pilot is to ensure that claimants on all legacy benefits, with a range of differing characteristics are successfully migrated to Universal Credit. The Department is currently working closely with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders to design the managed migration process and we are considering our approach to the pilot, including which groups or individuals we might begin to migrate first.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to a benefit that Universal Credit replaces. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit and their new circumstances. Transitional protection is designed to ensure those claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit without a change in circumstances receive the same level of entitlement to Universal Credit as they were entitled to on legacy benefits.
As Universal Credit is simpler, the most recent estimates show that around 700,000 households will get entitlements they were not claiming under the legacy system, worth on average £285 per month.
We have also introduced a number of measures to assist claimants during their transition to Universal Credit. Claimants who naturally migrate to Universal Credit can access a Universal Credit advance, which is worth up to 100 per cent of their indicative award and is available from the date of their claim. This advance is currently repayable over 12 months, but as announced in the 2018 Budget, from October 2021 the maximum repayment period will be extended to 16 months. Claimants may also be entitled to a two week Universal Credit Transitional Housing Payment. From July 2020 the Government is introducing a new two-week run on for income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
I refer the honourable Member to the reply to UIN 179316 on 18 October.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The Welfare Reform Act 2012, Section 4(1) (e), states that it is a condition of entitlement to Universal Credit that a claimant accepts a Claimant Commitment.
Where a claimant has failed to attend an interview for the purposes of accepting a Claimant Commitment, their claim will be closed. We will notify the claimant that their claim has been closed and that they can phone or write to the Department to ask us to explain our decision and/or if they disagree with the decision, to ask us to look at the decision again.
After the Department has looked at decisions again, there is a process known as Mandatory Reconsideration which is where an application for revision of a Universal Credit decision is considered by a Decision Maker. If claimants still disagree with the outcome they can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
Should there be any indication that the claimant is vulnerable we will seek to understand why the claimant failed to attend, and to explain the consequences of not re-engaging immediately. We will seek to make contact with the claimant and give them the opportunity to show good reason for non-attendance.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Claimants do have access to their journal after their Universal Credit award is terminated. It is read-access only but that does mean they can read the decision notice which explains that their award has been terminated and how the decision can be disputed under regulation 7. Posting the notice to the journal does comply with regulation 51 as in law it is still a “written notice of the decision”.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
All healthcare professionals (HCPs) carrying out WCA assessments were given face to face training on exploring self-harm and suicidal ideation in May 2018. The training which was quality assured by the Royal College of Psychiatrists was designed to enhance the skills of HCPs in sensitively exploring self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit.
We are therefore unable to estimate whether their entitlement would be different under Universal Credit compared to legacy benefits.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)