Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in each of the last 5 years, a) how many complaints to his Department have resulted in a consolatory payment being made to benefit recipients in recognition of delays or errors made by DWP; and b) what is the total amount of those consolatory payments in each of the last 5 years.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have provided the number of consolatory payments made in the last five years to benefit recipients in recognition of delays and errors made by DWP in the table below.
Year | Number of Consolatory Payments | Total Gross Cost (£) |
2020/21 | 3151 | 294315 |
2021/22 | 6483 | 525956.41 |
2022/23 | 8150 | 674850.49 |
2023/24 | 7119 | 684206.92 |
2024/25 | 6447 | 643899.70 |
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support she is providing to students who want to pursue a creative course for further education but cannot due to not obtaining English and Maths GCSEs despite resits.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Level 2 English and mathematics skills are essential for progression in work and further study, and providers are required to continue teaching English and/or mathematics to students aged 16 to 19 without these skills. Learners aged 16 to 18 at the start of their apprenticeship are required to achieve English and/or maths qualifications as an exit requirement.
The department does not set entry requirements for further education (FE) courses and guidance is clear that decisions to enter students into English and mathematics exams should be based on readiness to improve their grade.
The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper outlined further support for providers to improve outcomes for all students, on study programmes. We have introduced teaching hours requirements and will also introduce new Level 1 preparation for GCSE qualifications. We are working with the FE Commissioner to share effective practice. Proposed reforms to level 2 and 3 vocational and technical pathways will also be designed to ensure there is sufficient time to continue studying English and mathematics.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the requirement to resit Maths and English GCSEs until passing on young people starting their careers and pursuing vocational further education and apprenticeships.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Level 2 English and mathematics skills are essential for progression in work and further study, and providers are required to continue teaching English and/or mathematics to students aged 16 to 19 without these skills. Learners aged 16 to 18 at the start of their apprenticeship are required to achieve English and/or maths qualifications as an exit requirement.
The department does not set entry requirements for further education (FE) courses and guidance is clear that decisions to enter students into English and mathematics exams should be based on readiness to improve their grade.
The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper outlined further support for providers to improve outcomes for all students, on study programmes. We have introduced teaching hours requirements and will also introduce new Level 1 preparation for GCSE qualifications. We are working with the FE Commissioner to share effective practice. Proposed reforms to level 2 and 3 vocational and technical pathways will also be designed to ensure there is sufficient time to continue studying English and mathematics.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support young people pursuing apprenticeships who are unable to obtain English and Maths GCSEs; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the requirement to obtain English and Maths GCSEs when irrelevant to their chosen vocation on young people's confidence and self belief.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Young people are not required to hold GCSE qualifications in English and/or maths before starting an apprenticeship.
Apprentices under the age of 19 are funded to achieve up to a level 2 qualification in English and/or maths (where they do not already hold one) before the end of their apprenticeship, putting them in the best position to progress in their life and career. This can be a GCSE or functional skills qualification.
Further flexibility is in place for apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability, where there is evidence this is likely to be a barrier to them completing their apprenticeship. In these cases, they are able to achieve an entry level 3 functional skills qualification to complete. Since August 2024, this flexibility has been available to apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability but without an Education Health and Care Plan.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the requirement to have GCSEs to enter apprenticeships on young people with disabilities, learning difficulties and neurodivergence.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Young people are not required to hold GCSE qualifications in English and/or maths before starting an apprenticeship.
Apprentices under the age of 19 are funded to achieve up to a level 2 qualification in English and/or maths (where they do not already hold one) before the end of their apprenticeship, putting them in the best position to progress in their life and career. This can be a GCSE or functional skills qualification.
Further flexibility is in place for apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability, where there is evidence this is likely to be a barrier to them completing their apprenticeship. In these cases, they are able to achieve an entry level 3 functional skills qualification to complete. Since August 2024, this flexibility has been available to apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability but without an Education Health and Care Plan.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the regularity of identity verification for businesses and shops possibly operating illegally.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department considered the regularity of identity verification as part of Companies House reform. Identity verification applies to individuals associated with registered entities, not all businesses and is generally a one-off requirement. This approach provides more assurance about who is setting up, running and controlling companies in the UK whilst minimising burdens to business. Companies House can, require individuals to re-verify their identity where there are concerns that verification was obtained fraudulently. Identity verification forms part of a broader, risk-based approach, alongside enhanced intelligence sharing and strengthened powers to detect and address suspicious activity.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking maximise the public sharing of evidence on which assertions by the VOA are made; and how the VOA's duty to taxpayer confidentiality will be used when responding to queries.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency publishes valuation information for transparency while ensuring the protection of taxpayer confidentiality in line with its duty under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. The VOA published draft valuations from the 2026 Revaluation of Business Rates alongside Autumn Budget, so ratepayers can see the Rateable Values on which their bills will be based from 1 April 2026. To increase transparency, VOA also provided customers with information on comparable properties to help them understand how their rateable value has been determined.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure transparency in the work of the VOA.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency publishes valuation information for transparency while ensuring the protection of taxpayer confidentiality in line with its duty under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. The VOA published draft valuations from the 2026 Revaluation of Business Rates alongside Autumn Budget, so ratepayers can see the Rateable Values on which their bills will be based from 1 April 2026. To increase transparency, VOA also provided customers with information on comparable properties to help them understand how their rateable value has been determined.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK Government is playing internationally to support equitable access to long-acting HIV prevention technologies, including long-acting PrEP, in low-income settings.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 8 January in response to Question 101723.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Government is working with international partners to ensure that new HIV prevention technologies are affordable and accessible to populations most at risk.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 8 January in response to Question 101723.