Stephen Lloyd

Liberal Democrat - Former Member for Eastbourne

First elected: 8th June 2017

Left House: 6th November 2019 (Defeated)


Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Work and Pensions)
16th Jun 2017 - 6th Dec 2018
Work and Pensions Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 27th Jan 2014


Division Voting information

Stephen Lloyd has voted in 1212 divisions, and 9 times against the majority of their Party.

23 Feb 2015 - Serious Crime Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 29 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 201 Noes - 292
26 Jan 2015 - Infrastructure Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 33 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 52 Noes - 308
26 Jan 2015 - Infrastructure Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 26 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 245 Noes - 293
24 Nov 2014 - Recall of MPs Bill - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 31 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 204 Noes - 125
5 Jun 2013 - Badger Cull - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 30 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 250 Noes - 299
2 Nov 2011 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 238 Noes - 301
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 31 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 255 Noes - 304
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Stephen Lloyd voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
View All Stephen Lloyd Division Votes

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
John Bercow (Speaker)
(24 debate interactions)
Theresa Villiers (Conservative)
(20 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Work and Pensions
(156 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(55 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(54 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(45 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018
(3,149 words contributed)
Finance Act 2019
(415 words contributed)
Finance Act 2018
(203 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Stephen Lloyd's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Stephen Lloyd

16th October 2019
Stephen Lloyd signed this EDM on Thursday 17th October 2019

Voter ID requirements at polling stations

Tabled by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
That this House expresses deep concern at the Government’s announced plans to prevent people from voting unless they can provide photographic identification at the next election; notes that of the 44.6 million votes cast in 2017, there were just 28 allegations of in-person voter fraud and one conviction; recognises that …
71 signatures
(Most recent: 4 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 51
Scottish National Party: 10
Liberal Democrat: 4
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 2
Green Party: 1
1st April 2019
Stephen Lloyd signed this EDM on Wednesday 25th September 2019

THE ROLE OF THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY IN REGULATING LONDON CAPITAL AND FINANCE

Tabled by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
That this House notes the report of the administrators on the affairs of London Capital and Finance, which went into administration in January owing more than £230 million to more than 11,000 bondholders; further notes that the Serious Fraud Office and other crime agencies are investigating what the administrators described …
29 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Sep 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 14
Conservative: 5
Liberal Democrat: 5
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Independent: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Stephen Lloyd's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Stephen Lloyd, 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.


Stephen Lloyd has not been granted any Urgent Questions

2 Adjournment Debates led by Stephen Lloyd

Tuesday 7th June 2011

Stephen Lloyd has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
5 Other Department Questions
3rd Jul 2018
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that deaf and disabled people are able to stand for election and compete with other candidates on a level playing field irrespective of their chances of winning.

The Government believes that political parties have the prime responsibility for supporting their disabled candidates. There will be ways that the Government can help, which is why the Minister for Women and Equalities announced that the Government Equalities Office will, with others, undertake a programme of work in this area. Within 12 months, we hope to have political parties offering and advertising support, as well as solutions to help independent candidates. The funding of up to £250,000 that the Minister for Women and Equalities announced is intended to provide support for disabled candidates in the interim, while that programme of work is on-going.

We are working on what the interim funding will cover and how it will be delivered. Further details will be announced in due course.

Victoria Atkins
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
2nd Jul 2018
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 May 2018, Access to Elected Office for Disabled People, HCWS695, whether a Deaf and Disabled People's Organisation or an alliance of Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations will be appointed to administer the funds announced to support disabled candidates wishing to stand in the local elections in May 2019.

The Government believes that political parties have the prime responsibility for supporting their disabled candidates. There will be ways that the Government can help, which is why the Minister for Women and Equalities announced that the Government Equalities Office will, with others, undertake a programme of work in this area. Within 12 months, we hope to have political parties offering and advertising support, as well as solutions to help independent candidates. The funding of up to £250,000 that the Minister for Women and Equalities announced is intended to provide support for disabled candidates in the interim, while that programme of work is on-going.

We are working on what the interim funding will cover and how it will be delivered. Further details will be announced in due course.

Victoria Atkins
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the budget for the funding of adult skills in (a) the South East and (b) Eastbourne constituency is for (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16.

The Skills Funding Agency does not allocate funding to specific geographical areas. The Agency allocates funding to colleges and training providers, some of whom operate on very local geographic footprints, whilst others provide training and skills services to learners and employers across the country.

Colleges have all now received their allocations for 2015/16 and they will be in the public domain during June 2015.

Allocations for all providers in 2014/15, including those in the South East and Eastbourne areas, can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2014-to-2015.

11th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many electricity customers switched to an independent supplier in each month of 2014.

Ahead of the Government’s ‘Power to Switch’ campaign to encourage people to switch supplier and save money the most recent industry switching data produced by Energy UK and Electralink shows the number of electricity customers switching to in an independent supplier in each month of 2014 to be:

Jan-14

86,253

Feb-14

90,056

Mar-14

101,002

Apr-14

119,022

May-14

108,904

Jun-14

99,199

Jul-14

82,690

Aug-14

84,107

Sep-14

113,883

Oct-14

114,275

Nov-14

85,741

Dec-14

70,364

17th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if his Department will publish the apprentice pay survey for 2014 showing what apprentices are paid by age, gender, ethnicity, industry sector and apprenticeship level.

The 2014 Apprentice Pay Survey was published on .Gov.uk on 18 December 2014. The report shows levels of pay by age, gender, ethnicity, industry sector and apprenticeship level.

15th Jun 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the longest time was for a response to a freedom of information request in each Government department in each of the last three years.

The statistics collected and published centrally by the Government on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 within central government do not record the exact length of time taken to respond to individual requests. The statistics report on the number and proportion of requests that were answered within the 20 working days target, and on the number and proportion of requests that were answered within a permitted deadline extension.
15th Jun 2018
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of freedom of information requests have not been responded to within the 20 working days target by each Department in each of the last three years.

The Government publishes statistics on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 within central government, including on the number and proportion of requests that were answered within the 20 working days target, and on the number and proportion of requests that were answered within a permitted deadline extension. These can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.
12th Jun 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment each Department makes of the implications for climate change when making policy decisions.

Government departments undertake a policy impact assessment when developing new legislation. Where relevant, impact assessments include consideration of how a policy may decrease or increase greenhouse gas emissions. This is reflected in our strong progress on climate change – we have reduced emissions by 42% since 1990, while growing our economy by two thirds, and transformed our power sector with over half of our electricity now coming from low carbon generation.

24th May 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has made to the European Commission on its proposals to remove the exemption for stage lighting from EU energy efficiency regulations.

Officials from the Department attended the EU consultation forum in December 2017, the most recent discussion of this issue in Brussels, to discuss the latest Ecodesign lighting proposals. The Department has subsequently made representations to the European Commission in writing and in person to discuss the issue of stage lighting and potential solutions. I understand that representatives from the industry have also met with the Commission and will be drafting an alternative proposal for stage lighting for their consideration.

It should be noted that this is only a proposal at this stage and remains open for discussion, with a final decision on the draft regulation likely to be made towards the end of the year. We will continue to engage with both industry and the European Commission in the meantime.

10th Nov 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made in making written contracts of employment a legal requirement for all employees regardless of the terms and conditions of their employment in order to protect their employment rights; and if he will make a statement.

Employees who are employed for one month or more have a statutory right to receive a written statement setting out the main particulars of their employment.

Employees who do not receive a written statement, or who believe it to be inaccurate or incomplete, may refer the matter to an employment tribunal.

An employee is engaged under a contract of employment, which is brought into existence by an employee’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of employment offered by an employer. The terms of the contract may be expressed or implied, and if expressed, may be written or oral.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the number of council-funded library sites in the South East which have closed in the last 12 months.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport monitors proposed changes to library service provision throughout England, however the Department does not hold complete figures on the number of public library closures in each local authority in the South East of England in the last 12 months.

John Glen
Shadow Paymaster General
6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the number of council-funded library sites across England in each local authority which have closed in the last 12 months.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport monitors proposed changes to library service provision throughout England, however the Department does not hold complete figures on the number of public library closures in each local authority in England in the last 12 months.

John Glen
Shadow Paymaster General
12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much lottery funding has been allocated to the Deaflympics programme in each year since 1997.

In 2012, Sport England invested £134,620 of National Lottery funding into UK Deaf Sport to support the UK team attend the Deaflympics at Sofia in 2013. No lottery funding has been allocated to Deaflympics by UK Sport. £75,000 of Exchequer funding was provided by UK Sport to support Deaflympics 2005.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total investment was for each podium place won by the GB (a) Olympic Team, (b) Paralympic Team and (c) Deaflympics Team in the most recent games in which each team competed.

Team GB won 65 Olympic medals and Paralympics GB won 120 Paralympic medals at London 2012. The investment for that cycle can be found on UK Sport’s website here: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/sport/summer/

Team GB won four Olympic medals and Paralympics GB won six Paralympic medals at Sochi 2014. The investment for that cycle can be found on UK Sport’s website here: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/sport/winter/

In 2012, Sport England invested £134,620 of National Lottery funding into UK Deaf Sport to support the UK team attend the Deaflympics at Sofia in 2013. At the games, the GB team won two silver and three bronze medals.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to raise the profile of deaf sport.

UK Deaf Sport is one of seven national disability sport organisations Sport England is working closely with to get more disabled people playing sport. Sport England has invested £281,974 into UK Deaf Sport to provide disability and impairment expertise to create more opportunities for deaf people to play sport regularly. This is part of Sport England’s £171 million investment into disability sport.

23rd May 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how long the transitionary relief will last under the forthcoming increase in employer’s contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; and whether that relief will apply to all institutions that employ staff in that scheme.

The Department recently published its response to the public consultation on increases to teachers’ pensions employer contributions. All representations made by stakeholders have been considered, alongside all evidence relevant to the issues involved. The Department has decided to maintain its original proposal, to fund schools which receive public funding and Further Education providers for 2019-20, and not to fund Higher Education Institutions or Independent Schools. Funding beyond 2019-20 is a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

The full response can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/funding-increases-to-teachers-pensions-employer-contributions.

In addition, it is worth noting that all registered Higher Education providers are required to meet the Expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, which sets a high baseline for quality and standards.

23rd May 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment on the effect of the increase to the employer’s contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme on the quality of education provided by Higher Education Institutions after the transitional protection has passed.

The Department recently published its response to the public consultation on increases to teachers’ pensions employer contributions. All representations made by stakeholders have been considered, alongside all evidence relevant to the issues involved. The Department has decided to maintain its original proposal, to fund schools which receive public funding and Further Education providers for 2019-20, and not to fund Higher Education Institutions or Independent Schools. Funding beyond 2019-20 is a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

The full response can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/funding-increases-to-teachers-pensions-employer-contributions.

In addition, it is worth noting that all registered Higher Education providers are required to meet the Expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, which sets a high baseline for quality and standards.

23rd May 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether non-UK EU students starting courses in September 2019 will be eligible for student loans.

As announced in July 2018, EU nationals who start a course in England in the 2019/20 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided they meet the residency requirement. On 28 May 2019, at the EU Competitiveness Council, it was also announced that EU nationals who will start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year will also continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status with student finance support for the duration of their course.

17th Dec 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of (a) looked after children, (b) child protection plans and (c) children in need.

Department for Education data shows that since 2013, the number of children in need, children on child protection plans and looked-after children at 31 March have risen by 7.1%, 24.5% and 10.7% respectively. The most common factors that present themselves in children’s social care assessments are domestic abuse and mental health. These have been consistently the top two factors for the years during which we have collected this data. Data on this is available in table C3 of statistical release ‘Characteristics of children in need 2017 to 2018’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2017-to-2018.

17th Dec 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the link between deprivation and demand for children’s services.

Demand for children’s services is associated with a number of factors including deprivation. The most deprived local authorities have more looked-after children (per 10,000 nought to 17-year-olds), and these rates have grown faster, than the least deprived local authorities.

In preparation for the Spending Review, to help ensure decisions are based on the best available evidence, the government is working with the sector to develop a sharper and more granular picture of demand for children’s services.

We are also working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the government’s fair funding review of relative needs and resources, where new, up-to-date formulas are being developed to ensure funding distribution to councils is based on the best available evidence.

We welcome the contributions from the sector in this area including Newton Europe’s ‘Making Sense’ (2018) report and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services continuing research reports, ‘Safeguarding Pressures’ (2018).

28th Feb 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to amend s1.3 of the Children Act 1989 to better define the classification of disability as incapacity to parent.

Whilst we constantly keep policy under review, we have not had discussions about bringing forward legislative proposals to amend section 1(3).

17th Jan 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many families in Eastbourne would be entitled to free school meals under the pre-universal credit free school meals system.

We don’t differentiate between pupils eligible for free school meals under the pre-universal credit free school meals system and those only eligible due to the universal credit free school meals system. The number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals is published in the file “Underlying data: SFR28/2017” in the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release. For 2017 the information can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2017.

Information for earlier years can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

16th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applicants there were for the position of the new Ofsted lead subject inspector for religious education.

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

16th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria the lead subject inspector uses to assess the teaching of religious education in schools.

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

16th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who has held the responsibilities of the lead support inspector for religious education since the departure of the previous occupant of that post.

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

16th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the new Ofsted lead subject inspector for religious education will be appointed.

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

16th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for how long the posts of lead subject leader for (a) mathematics, (b) English, (c) geography and (d) history have been vacant.

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. A copy of his reply will be placed in the library of the House.

1st Jun 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many game farms in England use raised laying cages.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency have no information or data relating to numbers of game farms keeping laying hens in raised cages.

10th Nov 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animal cruelty offences and convictions have taken place in Eastbourne in each of the last three years.

The number of offenders found guilty of offences under Sections 4 to 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, in the Sussex Police Force area, from 2014 to 2016, can be viewed in the table. (1)(2)(3)

Force / Local Justice Area

2014

2015

2016

Proceeded against

Found guilty

Proceeded against

Found guilty

Proceeded against

Found guilty

Sussex

20

17

11

8

12

7

of which

Sussex (Eastern) Local Justice Area (4)

7

5

4

2

3

1

(1) Defined as SS4-8 Animal Welfare Act 2006

(2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

(4) Includes offences in Eastbourne

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

7th Dec 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the recommendations of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, entitled Article 18: From Rhetoric to Reality, published on 25 Oct 2017.

The UK Government and, therefore, DFID recognise that freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental freedom applying to all human beings, which is recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18. Violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief are among the most common human rights violations, and people are discriminated and persecuted all over the world for having and expressing their belief (or non-belief).

DFID welcomes the analysis and recommendations contained within the report which will further enrich the government’s understanding and help to inform our approach as we continue to seek ways in which to further promote and protect freedom of religion or belief in all countries.

7th Dec 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK aid is not allocated to organisations and programmes that do not support or understand freedom of religion or belief.

All DFID contractual and grant arrangements include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics; this includes discrimination on the basis of religion or belief. DFID’s due diligence assessments, a necessary pre-requisite for receiving UK Aid funding, obtain assurance of a potential delivery partner’s capacity to deliver and meet those conditions set out in the contract or grant award.

18th Jul 2019
What progress has been made on the proposed dualling of the A27 east of Lewes to Eastbourne.

The Department is considering this proposal alongside the many others put forward for possible inclusion in the second Road Investment Strategy. We intend to announce our decisions towards the end of this year.

25th Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to tackle the disability pay gap in the last 12 months.

This Government is committed to providing targeted support for people so that everyone is given the very best chance of getting into and then thriving in work.

From April 2019, Jobcentre Plus introduced an enhanced Disability Employment Adviser and a new Disability Employment Adviser Leader role, in total more than 800 individuals supporting Jobcentre colleagues to provide high quality services to disabled people and those with health conditions. One of the key transformational elements of Universal Credit is that it provides us with the opportunity to support people who are in work to progress and increase their earnings.

Using an Innovation Fund funded by DWP, DHSC, and NHS England we are testing initiatives to support disabled people and those with health conditions to get into, and then remain in, work.

The government published the voluntary reporting framework on disability, mental ill health and wellbeing in November 2018.This is aimed at large employers (over 250 employees) and it is recommended that they publically report on the pay and progression of disabled people at regular intervals. It can also be used to support smaller employers who are keen to drive greater transparency in their organisation or industry.

25th Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of disabled adults of working age in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland received support from the Access to Work grant scheme in each of the last three years.

When considering your questions, it should be noted that those that use the Access to Work scheme are not a direct subset of the disabled adults of working age. Robust proportions cannot be estimated by simply dividing figures for Access to Work by figures for number of disabled adults of working age. This is because the data would come from different data sources and are different data types.

To be eligible for Access to Work a person must be 16 or older, there is no upper age limit to eligibility therefore some people who receive Access to Work will not be considered working age (16-64 years old). Also Access to Work is available to those that have a disability or health condition (physical or mental) that makes it hard for them to do parts of their job or get to and from work therefore covers a broad range of people not just those who identify themselves as ‘disabled’.

When answering your question, we have interpreted ‘received support’ as received a payment.

The number of people who received a payment from Access to Work for each financial year can be found in Table 8 of the annual Access to Work Statistics publication. Table 8 shows the number of people who received a payment for any Access to Work provision by various customer characteristics including by region.

The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2019

Please note, number of people for each region is based on residency of the beneficiary as opposed to place of work. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

25th Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the disability employment gap in her Department.

The disability employment gap is the measure of the difference between the employment rate of disabled people and the employment rate of non-disabled people. It is not therefore something which can be measured at the level of a single organisation. The current disability employment gap in the UK is 28.9 percentage points.

25th Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employees left employment in her Department due to (a) disability and (b) long-term health conditions in (i) 2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.

The table below shows numbers of ill health retirements over the period requested.

Ill Health Retirements

Year ending

All leavers

No of People leaving on health reasons

Dec-16

10,014

174

Dec-17

6,998

129

Dec-18

6,754

126

Mims Davies
Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
25th Sep 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has implemented the voluntary reporting framework on disability, mental health and well-being in the workplace introduced in November 2018.

The Department have implemented the framework and the report is due to be published by the end of October 2019.

4th Jul 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the viability of the Verify scheme; and what role the private sector is planned to play in the future of that scheme.

The Government Digital Service (GDS) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have been working together on improvements to GOV.UK Verify for access to DWP digital services and the number of claimants who are successful when attempting to use GOV.UK Verify is steadily increasing.

DWP will continue to consider options to provide the easiest and most secure digital services for claimants and as such we're considering a range of other identity verification options which are easy to use and cost-effective for the Department. The Verify solution is part of the suite of products offered in this area. The assessment of all DWP identity solutions is a continuous process to ensure that we are meeting customer needs in the most cost effective way.

Discussions between Cabinet Office Government Digital Services, the owners of GOV.UK Verify are ongoing as to the role of the private sector post March 2020 and DWP, alongside all other Departments that use GOV.UK Verify, will be engaging in those conversations at the appropriate time.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
8th May 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timeframe is for the bringing forward the transitional protection payments under schedule 2 of the Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019.

Following the High Court Judgment on 3 May, in relation to Universal Credit and these regulations, we are considering our response.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
19th Mar 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average duration of a phone call to the universal credit helpline was in (a) each of the last three months and (b) 2018.

Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven day a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.

The average call duration for a person calling the Universal Credit Full Service helpline in each of the last three months was:

Month

Average Call Time (minutes)

December 2018

6.15

January 2019

6.01

February 2019

6.01

The average call duration for a person calling the Universal Credit Full Service helpline in 2018 was 6 minutes 16 seconds

The Average Call Time (ACT) measure is the average time between a customer being connected to an agent and the call ending.

Notes:

Data Source: BT - OPMIS and Historical Management Information (GI2 – HMI)

Outsourced partner data is included.

The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. The data should therefore be treated with caution.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
19th Mar 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average wait time for a phone call to be answered was to the universal credit helpline in (a) each of the last three months and (b) 2018.

Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.

The average waiting time for a person calling the Universal Credit Full Service helpline in each of the last three months was:

Month

Average Speed of Answer (minutes)

December 2018

4.52

January 2019

4.53

February 2019

4.16

The average waiting times for a person calling the Universal Credit Full Service helpline in 2018 was 5 minutes 52 seconds

Our Average Speed of Answer (ASA) measure is the average customer wait time from the point of entering a queue to connection to an agent. This excludes any time spent in pre-queue messaging and any wait time for calls ultimately abandoned by callers prior to answer.

Notes:

For calls connected to the owning Case Manager or team, the Average Speed of Answer was 1 minute 10 seconds in February 2019.

Data Source: BT - OPMIS and Historical Management Information (GI2 – HMI)

Outsourced partner data is included.

The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. The data should therefore be treated with caution.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
13th Mar 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what deadline is to implement the new online system to submit Access to Work signed claim forms with invoices.

Access to Work is in the process of transforming its digital processes, from application through to payment. We do not yet have a timetable for completion of this work. We are currently evaluating a range of digital options for Access to Work claim form and receipt/invoice submissions and we will be able to develop delivery timetables for that aspect of the transformation once this analysis has been completed.

18th Oct 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to make audio visual recording facilities available for personal independence payment and employment and support allowance assessments.

As part of our commitment to improve the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process we have been progressing options to video record PIP face-to-face assessments. Over the summer we gathered views on video recording from claimants, representative bodies and from Health Professionals in order to inform a live testing pilot later in the year, which will inform wider rollout decisions.

Providing they give advance notice, claimants of Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit can already ask for their assessment to be audio recorded and equipment will be provided. Claimants may also use their own equipment provided they meet certain conditions required by DWP.

8th Oct 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the draft Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018, what analysis her Department has undertaken to assess the effect of those draft regulations on (a) disabled people, (b) carers and families and (c) Information and advice services.

The draft Regulations have been out for consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee and we will consider their detailed recommendations alongside all the other stakeholder contributions we receive. We have had, and will continue to have, discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including disability charities, on the regulations and on the wider managed migration process.

This extensive consultation with stakeholders is designed to ensure that the regulations accommodate the needs of all claimants. Equality impacts have been considered in developing our plans for managed migration, in line with Ministers’ legal duties. We will continue to consider these impacts as our plans for managed migration develop.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
8th Oct 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the draft Universal Credit(Transitional Provisions) (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018, what representations she has received from disability charities on those draft regulations.

The draft Regulations have been out for consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee and we will consider their detailed recommendations alongside all the other stakeholder contributions we receive. We have had, and will continue to have, discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including disability charities, on the regulations and on the wider managed migration process.

This extensive consultation with stakeholders is designed to ensure that the regulations accommodate the needs of all claimants. Equality impacts have been considered in developing our plans for managed migration, in line with Ministers’ legal duties. We will continue to consider these impacts as our plans for managed migration develop.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
10th Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of applying the minimum income floor for self-employed claimants of universal credit on an annual basis.

The Government recognises the need for claimants who are setting up a business to be given time to establish themselves and develop their business and customer base. However, different businesses and individuals will take different periods of time to reach profitability. The intention of the start-up period is to give claimants the breathing space they need to work out how to support themselves while running their business - including identifying other sources of income or investment - while not subsidising claimants indefinitely to pursue unsustainable activities. This strikes a sensible balance between support for new business, not trapping claimants in welfare dependency, and protecting public funds.

Extending the start-up period beyond one year could diminish the incentive effect of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF), which is to encourage claimants to grow their earnings, whether through self-employment, combining that with other work, or moving to one of the over 800,000 current job vacancies. It would also add complexity, with no guarantee of better outcomes for either the claimant or the taxpayer. The government therefore has no current plans to reform the MIF or to extend the start-up period for self-employed claimants in Universal Credit.

In their January 2018 report, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the impact of the MIF on the public purse – their analysis is summarised in their welfare trends report http://obr.uk/wtr/welfare-trends-report-january-2018/

With regards to the estimate of the cost to the public purse of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed from 12 months to (a) 18 months and (b) 24 months, a formal assessment has not been made.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
10th Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed.

The Government recognises the need for claimants who are setting up a business to be given time to establish themselves and develop their business and customer base. However, different businesses and individuals will take different periods of time to reach profitability. The intention of the start-up period is to give claimants the breathing space they need to work out how to support themselves while running their business - including identifying other sources of income or investment - while not subsidising claimants indefinitely to pursue unsustainable activities. This strikes a sensible balance between support for new business, not trapping claimants in welfare dependency, and protecting public funds.

Extending the start-up period beyond one year could diminish the incentive effect of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF), which is to encourage claimants to grow their earnings, whether through self-employment, combining that with other work, or moving to one of the over 800,000 current job vacancies. It would also add complexity, with no guarantee of better outcomes for either the claimant or the taxpayer. The government therefore has no current plans to reform the MIF or to extend the start-up period for self-employed claimants in Universal Credit.

In their January 2018 report, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the impact of the MIF on the public purse – their analysis is summarised in their welfare trends report http://obr.uk/wtr/welfare-trends-report-january-2018/

With regards to the estimate of the cost to the public purse of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed from 12 months to (a) 18 months and (b) 24 months, a formal assessment has not been made.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
10th Sep 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed from 12 months to (a) 18 months and (b) 24 months.

The Government recognises the need for claimants who are setting up a business to be given time to establish themselves and develop their business and customer base. However, different businesses and individuals will take different periods of time to reach profitability. The intention of the start-up period is to give claimants the breathing space they need to work out how to support themselves while running their business - including identifying other sources of income or investment - while not subsidising claimants indefinitely to pursue unsustainable activities. This strikes a sensible balance between support for new business, not trapping claimants in welfare dependency, and protecting public funds.

Extending the start-up period beyond one year could diminish the incentive effect of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF), which is to encourage claimants to grow their earnings, whether through self-employment, combining that with other work, or moving to one of the over 800,000 current job vacancies. It would also add complexity, with no guarantee of better outcomes for either the claimant or the taxpayer. The government therefore has no current plans to reform the MIF or to extend the start-up period for self-employed claimants in Universal Credit.

In their January 2018 report, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the impact of the MIF on the public purse – their analysis is summarised in their welfare trends report http://obr.uk/wtr/welfare-trends-report-january-2018/

With regards to the estimate of the cost to the public purse of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed from 12 months to (a) 18 months and (b) 24 months, a formal assessment has not been made.

Lord Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)