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Written Question
Farmers: Health and Safety
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

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 ensure that farmers follow duties under (a) section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and (b) Cattle and public access guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Over the period 2020/21-2022/23, eight members of the public were killed in agriculture, forestry and fishing in work-related incidents involving cattle while walking on public rights of way or open access land. This information has been published on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website Fatal injuries in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain 2022/23 (hse.gov.uk)

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provide the national reporting framework for accident reporting and place a duty on responsible persons (usually employers, certain self-employed persons, and those in control of work premises) to report certain cases of injury, diseases and specified dangerous occurrences to the relevant Enforcing Authority.

Incidents involving livestock and members of the public are reportable under RIDDOR where they result in either a fatality or a member of public attending hospital, directly from site, for treatment in respect of any injuries sustained. Many serious incidents are not reported so HSE does not have verified data on major injuries sustained by members of the public involving cattle. However, some analysis was done in 2020/21 for the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee and this suggested that 26 members of the public sustained non-fatal injuries from cattle whilst walking on public rights of way or open access land.

The safety and health of people at work in agriculture and members of the public who are affected by agricultural activities is a concern to HSE and the industry. HSE has a long-term strategy to drive up industry ownership of the challenge and influence farmer behaviour to comply with long standing legal requirements. Since 2018, HSE has delivered an annual programme of free training to farmers in advance of targeted proactive inspection. These targeted inspections specifically check if farmers are complying with the law in relation to management of risks from workplace vehicles, cattle (including the management of cattle in fields with public rights of ways) and falls.

Earlier this year HSE has launched its 2024 Agricultural Campaign Work Right Agriculture - Work Right to keep Britain safe which includes a clear focus on management of livestock in a bid to improve safety on Britain’s farms. HSE is committed to supporting farmers to work safely with livestock.

HSE also produces guidance to enable farmers and landowners to manage the risk from cattle put into fields which also have public access. Guidance is available free of charge on HSE’s website:


Written Question
Cattle: Accidents
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

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 number of members of the public who have been seriously injured by cattle while walking on public rights of way or open access land in the last three years.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Over the period 2020/21-2022/23, eight members of the public were killed in agriculture, forestry and fishing in work-related incidents involving cattle while walking on public rights of way or open access land. This information has been published on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website Fatal injuries in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain 2022/23 (hse.gov.uk)

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provide the national reporting framework for accident reporting and place a duty on responsible persons (usually employers, certain self-employed persons, and those in control of work premises) to report certain cases of injury, diseases and specified dangerous occurrences to the relevant Enforcing Authority.

Incidents involving livestock and members of the public are reportable under RIDDOR where they result in either a fatality or a member of public attending hospital, directly from site, for treatment in respect of any injuries sustained. Many serious incidents are not reported so HSE does not have verified data on major injuries sustained by members of the public involving cattle. However, some analysis was done in 2020/21 for the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee and this suggested that 26 members of the public sustained non-fatal injuries from cattle whilst walking on public rights of way or open access land.

The safety and health of people at work in agriculture and members of the public who are affected by agricultural activities is a concern to HSE and the industry. HSE has a long-term strategy to drive up industry ownership of the challenge and influence farmer behaviour to comply with long standing legal requirements. Since 2018, HSE has delivered an annual programme of free training to farmers in advance of targeted proactive inspection. These targeted inspections specifically check if farmers are complying with the law in relation to management of risks from workplace vehicles, cattle (including the management of cattle in fields with public rights of ways) and falls.

Earlier this year HSE has launched its 2024 Agricultural Campaign Work Right Agriculture - Work Right to keep Britain safe which includes a clear focus on management of livestock in a bid to improve safety on Britain’s farms. HSE is committed to supporting farmers to work safely with livestock.

HSE also produces guidance to enable farmers and landowners to manage the risk from cattle put into fields which also have public access. Guidance is available free of charge on HSE’s website:


Written Question
Public Footpaths: Accidents
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

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 number of members of the public who have been killed by cattle whilst walking on public rights of way or open access land in the last three years.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Over the period 2020/21-2022/23, eight members of the public were killed in agriculture, forestry and fishing in work-related incidents involving cattle while walking on public rights of way or open access land. This information has been published on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website Fatal injuries in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain 2022/23 (hse.gov.uk)

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provide the national reporting framework for accident reporting and place a duty on responsible persons (usually employers, certain self-employed persons, and those in control of work premises) to report certain cases of injury, diseases and specified dangerous occurrences to the relevant Enforcing Authority.

Incidents involving livestock and members of the public are reportable under RIDDOR where they result in either a fatality or a member of public attending hospital, directly from site, for treatment in respect of any injuries sustained. Many serious incidents are not reported so HSE does not have verified data on major injuries sustained by members of the public involving cattle. However, some analysis was done in 2020/21 for the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee and this suggested that 26 members of the public sustained non-fatal injuries from cattle whilst walking on public rights of way or open access land.

The safety and health of people at work in agriculture and members of the public who are affected by agricultural activities is a concern to HSE and the industry. HSE has a long-term strategy to drive up industry ownership of the challenge and influence farmer behaviour to comply with long standing legal requirements. Since 2018, HSE has delivered an annual programme of free training to farmers in advance of targeted proactive inspection. These targeted inspections specifically check if farmers are complying with the law in relation to management of risks from workplace vehicles, cattle (including the management of cattle in fields with public rights of ways) and falls.

Earlier this year HSE has launched its 2024 Agricultural Campaign Work Right Agriculture - Work Right to keep Britain safe which includes a clear focus on management of livestock in a bid to improve safety on Britain’s farms. HSE is committed to supporting farmers to work safely with livestock.

HSE also produces guidance to enable farmers and landowners to manage the risk from cattle put into fields which also have public access. Guidance is available free of charge on HSE’s website:


Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Thursday 14th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 26 January 2024 from the Rt hon. Member for East Ham, reference ST105404.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

I can confirm that a full response was issued to the MP’s parliamentary email address as a PDF attachment on 15 February 2024 from our complaint’s resolution team (CMPT12024-07318 (ST105404) I have checked the email address used and it is correct.


Written Question
Shared Housing: Government Assistance
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received housing support at the shared accommodation rate in each of the last five years.

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

The information requested is not readily available for Universal Credit, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, data on households on Housing Benefits entitled to the Shared Accommodation Rate is published and available here.

Guidance for users is available here.

Evidence relating to Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) rates was considered as part of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) review last Autumn. This led to the significant investment of £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This means 1.6 million private renters will receive additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25.

There are exemptions from the SAR for those who find it difficult to share accommodation, such as care leavers, victims of modern slavery and domestic abuse and people who have been homeless and living in a hostel for over 3 months. There is also an exemption in certain circumstances on the grounds of disability. Exempt claimants can claim the higher one-bedroom LHA rate.

For individuals who may require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. DHP payments are entirely at the discretion of the local authority and since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion to local authorities.


Written Question
Shared Housing: Government Assistance
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of housing support provided through the shared accommodation rate.

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

Evidence relating to Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) rates was considered as part of the LHA review last Autumn. This led to the significant investment of £1.2 billion increasing Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This means 1.6 million private renters will receive additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25.

There are exemptions from the SAR for those who find it difficult to share accommodation, such as care leavers, victims of modern slavery and domestic abuse and people who have been homeless and living in a hostel for over 3 months. There is also an exemption in certain circumstances on the grounds of disability. Exempt claimants can claim the higher one-bedroom LHA rate.

For individuals who may require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. DHP payments are entirely at the discretion of the local authority and since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion to local authorities.


Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Food Banks
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information was included in his Department’s foodbank signposting slips in February (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 19 February we introduced a new food charity signposting slip to replace the one previously used.

This does not change DWP signposting policy but improves the signposting slip to comply with our obligations under GDPR.

Our Jobcentres continue to provide customers with guidance to find additional support, including signposting to emergency food support when appropriate.

The new slip does not include any personal data. It also now provides claimants with information on where they might access emergency food locally, and wider sources of support.


Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Food Banks
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason his Department has changed the information provided on foodbank signposting slips.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 19 February we introduced a new food charity signposting slip to replace the one previously used.

This does not change DWP signposting policy but improves the signposting slip to comply with our obligations under GDPR.

Our Jobcentres continue to provide customers with guidance to find additional support, including signposting to emergency food support when appropriate.

The new slip does not include any personal data. It also now provides claimants with information on where they might access emergency food locally, and wider sources of support.


Written Question
Dual Jobholding: Statutory Sick Pay
Thursday 29th February 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of employees eligible to receive Statutory Sick Pay from more than one employer.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Statutory Sick Pay is administered and paid by employers. Since 2014, employers are not required to report information on Statutory Sick Pay payments therefore this information is not available.


Written Question
Dual Jobholding: Low Pay
Thursday 29th February 2024

Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of employees that (a) have two or more jobs and (b) earn less than the Lower Earnings Limit in each job.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not hold the information requested.