To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Perinatal Mortality: Finance
Wednesday 18th October 2023

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support is available to parents after the stillbirth of a child.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Government recognises that stillbirth and neonatal death are extremely sad and difficult for parents and families.

To protect a woman’s health and wellbeing, where qualifying conditions are met, a woman is eligible for maternity payments in the sad event that her baby is stillborn from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy or if her baby sadly dies shortly after birth at any point in the pregnancy.

There are two maternity payments available: Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) paid by employers to qualifying employed women and Maternity Allowance (MA) paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to eligible women (including the self-employed and those employed women who cannot get SMP).

Both SMP and MA are paid for 39 weeks. For SMP, the first six weeks are paid at a weekly rate equal to 90 percent of the woman's average weekly earnings, with no upper limit, followed by 33 weeks at the lower of either the standard rate or 90 percent of the woman's average weekly earnings. MA is paid at either the standard rate or 90 percent of the woman's average weekly earnings, whichever is the lower, for the whole 39 week-period. The standard rate for both SMP and MA is £172.48 per week (2023/24).

A Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 may be payable for a stillbirth if at the time of the claim the claimant is in receipt of an income related benefit such as Universal Credit. A Sure Start Maternity Grant is usually only paid for the first child.

Depending on individual circumstances, additional financial support may be available for parents through the benefit system, for example Universal Credit.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Women
Thursday 11th May 2023

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it remains her Department's policy (a) that the matter of changes to women's state pension age is resolved and (b) to continue to engage with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation into the communication of those changes.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

It would not be appropriate to comment on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigation while it is ongoing. Section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”.

This is a multi-staged process, and the Ombudsman has not given his final findings on the investigation. We are cooperating with the Ombudsman’s investigation.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Women
Thursday 11th May 2023

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she expects the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to publish its final report and recommendations on the communication of changes to the Women’s State Pension age by her Department.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is responsible for setting the timeline for his investigation.


Written Question
Local Housing Allowance: Uprating
Thursday 19th January 2023

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an estimate of the cost of uprating Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of market rents across England and place that estimate in the Library.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

In April 2020 the Government boosted investment in the Local Housing Allowance by nearly £1 billion and rates have been maintained at their increased level in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The latest estimated cost of increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile, made in preparations for Autumn Budget, was up to £700m for the financial year 2023-24. This is based on the new LHA rates coming into effect in April 2023. The estimate for the policy covered Great Britain as the LHA applies across Great Britain.

This estimate was produced before the Autumn Statement was finalised and therefore is not on the same basis as the policy costings published alongside the statement. The costing has not been quality assured to the standard of an agreed policy and is based on assumptions that were still being developed at the time.


Written Question
Women against State Pension Inequality
Thursday 24th November 2022

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2022 to Question 14559 on Women Against State Pension Inequality, for what reason a Minister has not met with representatives of Women Against State Pension Inequality since 29 June 2016; and if he will meet with that group.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given by Hon Guy Opperman MP on 19 July 2022 to question number 36754.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Females
Thursday 24th November 2022

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to take steps to help women affected by changes to women's state pension age; and whether is his Department's policy to engage with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation into the communication of those changes.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women as a long-overdue move towards gender equality. Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have found no fault with the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, finding we acted entirely lawfully and did not discriminate on any grounds. The Supreme Court refused the claimants’ permission to appeal.

This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it, including when they near or reach retirement. The Government also understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living which is why, in addition to the £37 billion of support we have provided for cost of living pressures in 2022-23, we are acting now to ensure support continues throughout 2023/24. To ensure stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement the Government has announced £26bn in cost of living support for 2023/24. This includes Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable households, an additional £1 billion to help with the cost of household essentials next year and the amended Energy Price Guarantee which will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.

We continue to provide support to help older people stay in and return to work. The Government recognises the challenges faced by some aged 50 and over, which is why we are providing a new enhanced offer through our 50+ Choices programme for people aged 50 and over to remain in and return to work.

The Ombudsman’s investigation is ongoing and confidential. Section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”. The Department is fully cooperating with the PHSO investigation.


Written Question
State Retirement Pensions: Females
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy (a) that the matter of changes to women's state pension age is resolved and (b) to continue to engage with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation into the communication of those changes.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government, and all successive governments of different political persuasions, decided nearly 30 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women as a long-overdue move towards gender equality. Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have found no fault with the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995. The courts found that DWP acted entirely lawfully and did not discriminate on any grounds.

Work has now begun on the second Government Review of State Pension age which, under the Pensions Act 2014, must be published by May 2023. This Review will consider a wide range of evidence, including findings from two independent reports, to assess whether the rules about State Pension age remain appropriate. No one has reached any conclusions in this Review.

The PHSO Ombudsman’s investigation into communication of changes to women’s state pensions is ongoing and section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”. We are cooperating fully with the PHSO in their investigation and will continue to do so.


Written Question
Women against State Pension Inequality
Tuesday 19th July 2022

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2022 to Question 14559 on Women Against State Pension Inequality, for what reason a departmental Minister has not met with representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) since 29 June 2016; and why her Department has no plans to accept outstanding requests for meetings from WASPI representatives.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

State Pension age issues have been debated extensively in the House over many years, and subsequently litigated in the highest courts in the land.

The PHSO Ombudsman’s investigation into communication of changes to women’s state pension is ongoing; section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”.

It would be inappropriate to discuss these issues whilst the PHSO Ombudsman’s investigation is ongoing. This is the approach of successive governments to such matters.


Written Question
Mortgages: Housing Benefit
Tuesday 5th July 2022

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2022 to Question 16929 on Mortgages: Housing Benefit, if he will make an estimate of the potential number of people that would benefit each year from the Government's proposed policy of allowing housing benefit to be used towards the cost of a mortgage; and what the evidential basis is for the assertion that this policy removes a barrier that currently prevents thousands of families from buying their own home.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There are 5 million in receipt of housing support. The number of people who will benefit will depend on people’s personal circumstances and their choices.

Owning a home is a real aspiration for many and this policy supports that. The total bill for Housing Support stands at about £30 billion each year, and unless we take action, the Office for Budget Responsibility predict it could rise to around £50 billion by 2050. None of these huge sums are being put towards helping people to have the chance to buy their own homes. We want to change that, support home ownership and put taxpayer’s money to better use. We will look to change welfare rules so those who receive housing support will be given a new choice: to use their benefit towards mortgage payments for a new mortgage instead of simply on rent.

By making these changes to welfare we are moving homeownership to within reach of hard-working benefit recipients so they can make their own choices about whether to plan for home ownership in future.


Written Question
Mortgages: Housing Benefit
Thursday 16th June 2022

Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people who could benefit each year from the Government's proposals to allow housing benefit to be used towards the cost of a mortgage.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There are 5 million in receipt of housing support, and though we know that it is likely most will not be in a position to take up the new policy, it removes a barrier that currently prevents thousands of families from buying their own home.