Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the length of time it takes for working families to receive universal credit payments.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Universal Credit assessment period and payment structure is a fundamental part of the design; it helps reduce welfare dependency and support people into employment by mirroring the world of work, where 75% of people are paid monthly. It is not possible to award a Universal Credit payment as soon as eligibility is determined.
We have a number of safeguards in place to help claimants transition to Universal Credit including Advances and Budgeting Support. Claimants can apply for an advance and can receive up to 50 per cent of their indicative award. Personal Budgeting Support is also discussed at the claimant’s initial work search interview to gauge their potential support needs and can include money advice.
We continue to work closely with landlords, Local Authorities and other organisations to ensure claimants are supported.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of universal credit have a managed payment to landlord in Great Grimsby.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
This information is not currently available.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has awarded any commercial contracts to iNHouse Communications Ltd in the last five years.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Between April 2011 and March 2016 DWP awarded no contracts to iNHouse Communications Ltd.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is in communication with iNHouse Communications Ltd in relation to any ongoing commercial tender process.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
There have been no communications with this company with regard to any tender process.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the proportion of people who have been diagnosed with autism or Asperger's syndrome and who have been in employment in each of the last five years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not hold information on the proportion of people who have been diagnosed with autism or Asperger's syndrome in each of the last five years who have been in employment
As is described in the Government’s Autism Strategy, a number of government departments and agencies are working to update or improve a range of data on people with autism, in order to build up a better understanding of their challenges and needs.
The Government’s Autism Strategy, and the updated Statutory Guidance published in March 2015, sets out in detail how Government will support the autism agenda nationally.
The Autism Strategy can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/think-autism-an-update-to-the-government-adult-autism-strategy
The Statutory Guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-autism-strategy-statutory-guidance