Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to address the 15% of people who are dying in poverty in Mid Fife and Glenrothes every year.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A Scottish person at end of life can make a fast-tracked claim to the following reserved benefits (if they are eligible): Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment Support Allowance (NS ESA).
Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.
The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age
For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide people with financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable Scottish people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to UC and NS ESA. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to address the 25.9% of working age people who are dying in poverty in Fife every year.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A Scottish person at end of life can make a fast-tracked claim to the following reserved benefits (if they are eligible): Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment Support Allowance (NS ESA).
Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.
The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age
For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide people with financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable Scottish people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to UC and NS ESA. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of financial insecurity of people at the end of life.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age.
For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enables people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment and Support Allowance. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher UC Health rate, no matter when they make their claim.
Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to ensure employers provide the correct PPE for workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect data on the numbers of people directly or indirectly exposed to welding fume.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will estimate the number of workers exposed (a) directly and (b) indirectly to welding fume since it was categorised as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect data on the numbers of people directly or indirectly exposed to welding fume.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to help ensure standardisation across all industrial sectors for protective equipment for workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) which specifies RPE types, filters and standards to be used at work, Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide HSG53
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require that businesses risk assess exposure to hazardous substances like welding fume and ensure that appropriate RPE is selected, where required.
Industry sectors and businesses may have different RPE requirements, depending on the type of welding and the work environment.
To assist them in their selection the COSHH Essentials Welding Sheet WL3 gives welders guidance on the appropriate types of mask and grade of filters, suitable for welding, Welding fume control (hse.gov.uk).
HSE conducts regular inspection campaigns targeting the industries where welding is prevalent. Part of the inspection is to check that welders have the appropriate RPE where required.
HSE works with industry stakeholders to promote the guidance and improve safety in welding.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it his policy to collect data on the number of workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume who have received diagnosis of (i) nasal, (ii) septum, (iii) throat, (iv) stomach, (v) bowel, (vi) kidney, (vii) liver, (viii) lung and (ix) bladder cancer.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for collection of data of workplace injury and illness. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provides the national reporting framework for responsible persons (usually employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises) to report certain cases of injury, diseases and specified dangerous occurrences to the relevant Enforcing Authority (HSE or Local Authority). Regulation 9 of RIDDOR requires the responsible person to report a diagnosis of any cancer attributed to an occupational exposure to a known human carcinogen in their current job.
When reporting, the responsible person must provide details on the affected person's occupation or job title and a description of the work that led to the disease. This would capture whether the person is a welder and/or carries out welding as part of their job. There is also the option to report the specific type of cancer being diagnosed.
HSE also collects data on occupational cancers through the Health and Occupational Reporting (THOR) network. This includes:
Where available, occupational information such as job title may be recorded, potentially identifying welders.
However, welders may also be exposed to other carcinogens, such as asbestos, during their work so it is difficult to directly link a diagnosis of cancer specifically to exposure to welding fumes.