Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of Carers Allowance have been taken to court in each of the last five years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The requested information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of carers allowance her Department has sought to collect in each of the last 10 years; and what the average amount of overpayment recovered in each of those years was.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by informal carers who provide invaluable support for relatives, partners, friends and neighbours who may be ill, frail or disabled. We also recognise and value the work that carer’s organisations undertake for and on behalf of carers.
Since 2010 the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £64.60 a week, meaning an additional £550 a year for carers. By 2022/23 we are forecast to spend around £3.7 billion a year on CA, a real terms increase of more than a third since 2016/17.
DWP has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that, overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation.
In September 2018 DWP introduced the Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) system for use in Carers Allowance. The VEP service presents earnings and employment data to users, with an automated alerts service generating notifications of earnings or pensions related changes. This allows benefit awards to be updated far more quickly.
Where there are discrepancies DWP will contact the claimant for further information. This activity is part of the normal claims handling and maintenance process.
DWP has a Carers Allowance (CA) Fraud and Error Framework which addresses potential fraud and error losses in CA. Activity is based on CA overpayment data. This data shows that the main causes of errors are earnings and to a lesser extent, change of entitlement and hospitalisation. Individual benefit strategies have been developed in order to target these risks types
Data is only available from 2011/12. Table 1 below shows the volume and value of CA new debt overpayments deemed recoverable for the period available up to 2017/18. Table 2 shows the monetary value of CA overpayment recoveries in each year. Please note, recoveries in a financial year won’t necessarily correspond to the new debts raised within that year.
DWP has different deduction rates to be applied in different circumstances and these rates can vary dependent upon a claimant’s particular circumstances. Because of this it would not be possible to provide a meaningful average recovery amount.
Table 1
Financial Year | Count of New CA Debts | Value of New CA Debts Raised in Year |
2011/12 | 30.7k | £39.32m |
2012/13 | 22.4k | £28.27m |
2013/14 | 19.1k | £25.86m |
2014/15 | 14.4k | £18.01m |
2015/16 | 14.5k | £16.74m |
2016/17 | 21.4k | £19.01m |
2017/18 | 18.1k | £18.18m |
Table 2
Financial Year | Value of CA Debt Recovered in Year |
2011/12 | £18.02m |
2012/13 | £18.65m |
2013/14 | £19.28m |
2014/15 | £19.60m |
2015/16 | £19.01m |
2016/17 | £21.12m |
2017/18 | £20.91m |
The Government keeps the CA earnings limit under regular review. In April 2018, the CA earnings limit increased from £116 to £120 a week. This 3.4% increase was higher than average earnings growth (Sep 17). In the Economic and fiscal outlook (March 2017) the OBR forecast that average earnings would increase by around 7.5% between 2015 and 2018, whereas we will have increased the CA earnings limit by around 9%.
Table 3 below shows a breakdown of the recoverable CA overpayment volumes by reason for the same period available. It should be noted that not all debts will be cleared in the year in which they have been raised.
Table 3
Financial Year | Count of CA Debts | Reason for CA Overpayment |
2011/12 | 5.5k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.0k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2012/13 | 5.0k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 8.0k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2013/14 | 5.1k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.2k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.4k | Full Time Education |
2014/15 | 4.2k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 6.7k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2015/16 | 4.6k | Ceased to care 35hours |
| 6.5k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.2k | Full Time Education |
2016/17 | 7.5k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 8.7k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.4k | Full Time Education |
2017/18 | 4.9k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.3k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.2k | Full Time Education |
Data on specific earnings thresholds as requested is not recorded.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of recovered overpayments of carers allowance were due to (a) 35 hours of care per week not being done, (b) earnings in excess of the threshold and (c) carers taking up an education course exceeding 21 hours of study time in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by informal carers who provide invaluable support for relatives, partners, friends and neighbours who may be ill, frail or disabled. We also recognise and value the work that carer’s organisations undertake for and on behalf of carers.
Since 2010 the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £64.60 a week, meaning an additional £550 a year for carers. By 2022/23 we are forecast to spend around £3.7 billion a year on CA, a real terms increase of more than a third since 2016/17.
DWP has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that, overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation.
In September 2018 DWP introduced the Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) system for use in Carers Allowance. The VEP service presents earnings and employment data to users, with an automated alerts service generating notifications of earnings or pensions related changes. This allows benefit awards to be updated far more quickly.
Where there are discrepancies DWP will contact the claimant for further information. This activity is part of the normal claims handling and maintenance process.
DWP has a Carers Allowance (CA) Fraud and Error Framework which addresses potential fraud and error losses in CA. Activity is based on CA overpayment data. This data shows that the main causes of errors are earnings and to a lesser extent, change of entitlement and hospitalisation. Individual benefit strategies have been developed in order to target these risks types
Data is only available from 2011/12. Table 1 below shows the volume and value of CA new debt overpayments deemed recoverable for the period available up to 2017/18. Table 2 shows the monetary value of CA overpayment recoveries in each year. Please note, recoveries in a financial year won’t necessarily correspond to the new debts raised within that year.
DWP has different deduction rates to be applied in different circumstances and these rates can vary dependent upon a claimant’s particular circumstances. Because of this it would not be possible to provide a meaningful average recovery amount.
Table 1
Financial Year | Count of New CA Debts | Value of New CA Debts Raised in Year |
2011/12 | 30.7k | £39.32m |
2012/13 | 22.4k | £28.27m |
2013/14 | 19.1k | £25.86m |
2014/15 | 14.4k | £18.01m |
2015/16 | 14.5k | £16.74m |
2016/17 | 21.4k | £19.01m |
2017/18 | 18.1k | £18.18m |
Table 2
Financial Year | Value of CA Debt Recovered in Year |
2011/12 | £18.02m |
2012/13 | £18.65m |
2013/14 | £19.28m |
2014/15 | £19.60m |
2015/16 | £19.01m |
2016/17 | £21.12m |
2017/18 | £20.91m |
The Government keeps the CA earnings limit under regular review. In April 2018, the CA earnings limit increased from £116 to £120 a week. This 3.4% increase was higher than average earnings growth (Sep 17). In the Economic and fiscal outlook (March 2017) the OBR forecast that average earnings would increase by around 7.5% between 2015 and 2018, whereas we will have increased the CA earnings limit by around 9%.
Table 3 below shows a breakdown of the recoverable CA overpayment volumes by reason for the same period available. It should be noted that not all debts will be cleared in the year in which they have been raised.
Table 3
Financial Year | Count of CA Debts | Reason for CA Overpayment |
2011/12 | 5.5k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.0k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2012/13 | 5.0k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 8.0k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2013/14 | 5.1k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.2k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.4k | Full Time Education |
2014/15 | 4.2k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 6.7k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2015/16 | 4.6k | Ceased to care 35hours |
| 6.5k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.2k | Full Time Education |
2016/17 | 7.5k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 8.7k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.4k | Full Time Education |
2017/18 | 4.9k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.3k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.2k | Full Time Education |
Data on specific earnings thresholds as requested is not recorded.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the prosecutions relating to overpaid carer's allowance related to (a) 35 hours of care per week not being carried out, (b) earnings in excess of the threshold and (c) carers taking up an education course exceeding 21 hours of study time in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that, overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation.
DWP does not routinely publish prosecution statistics. The information is not available at a granular level. The level of detail requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of recovered overpayments of carers allowance due to earnings in excess of the threshold related to earnings which exceeded the threshold by (a) less than 10 per cent and (b) less than 20 per cent in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by informal carers who provide invaluable support for relatives, partners, friends and neighbours who may be ill, frail or disabled. We also recognise and value the work that carer’s organisations undertake for and on behalf of carers.
Since 2010 the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £64.60 a week, meaning an additional £550 a year for carers. By 2022/23 we are forecast to spend around £3.7 billion a year on CA, a real terms increase of more than a third since 2016/17.
DWP has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that, overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation.
In September 2018 DWP introduced the Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) system for use in Carers Allowance. The VEP service presents earnings and employment data to users, with an automated alerts service generating notifications of earnings or pensions related changes. This allows benefit awards to be updated far more quickly.
Where there are discrepancies DWP will contact the claimant for further information. This activity is part of the normal claims handling and maintenance process.
DWP has a Carers Allowance (CA) Fraud and Error Framework which addresses potential fraud and error losses in CA. Activity is based on CA overpayment data. This data shows that the main causes of errors are earnings and to a lesser extent, change of entitlement and hospitalisation. Individual benefit strategies have been developed in order to target these risks types
Data is only available from 2011/12. Table 1 below shows the volume and value of CA new debt overpayments deemed recoverable for the period available up to 2017/18. Table 2 shows the monetary value of CA overpayment recoveries in each year. Please note, recoveries in a financial year won’t necessarily correspond to the new debts raised within that year.
DWP has different deduction rates to be applied in different circumstances and these rates can vary dependent upon a claimant’s particular circumstances. Because of this it would not be possible to provide a meaningful average recovery amount.
Table 1
Financial Year | Count of New CA Debts | Value of New CA Debts Raised in Year |
2011/12 | 30.7k | £39.32m |
2012/13 | 22.4k | £28.27m |
2013/14 | 19.1k | £25.86m |
2014/15 | 14.4k | £18.01m |
2015/16 | 14.5k | £16.74m |
2016/17 | 21.4k | £19.01m |
2017/18 | 18.1k | £18.18m |
Table 2
Financial Year | Value of CA Debt Recovered in Year |
2011/12 | £18.02m |
2012/13 | £18.65m |
2013/14 | £19.28m |
2014/15 | £19.60m |
2015/16 | £19.01m |
2016/17 | £21.12m |
2017/18 | £20.91m |
The Government keeps the CA earnings limit under regular review. In April 2018, the CA earnings limit increased from £116 to £120 a week. This 3.4% increase was higher than average earnings growth (Sep 17). In the Economic and fiscal outlook (March 2017) the OBR forecast that average earnings would increase by around 7.5% between 2015 and 2018, whereas we will have increased the CA earnings limit by around 9%.
Table 3 below shows a breakdown of the recoverable CA overpayment volumes by reason for the same period available. It should be noted that not all debts will be cleared in the year in which they have been raised.
Table 3
Financial Year | Count of CA Debts | Reason for CA Overpayment |
2011/12 | 5.5k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.0k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2012/13 | 5.0k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 8.0k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2013/14 | 5.1k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.2k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.4k | Full Time Education |
2014/15 | 4.2k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 6.7k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.3k | Full Time Education |
2015/16 | 4.6k | Ceased to care 35hours |
| 6.5k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.2k | Full Time Education |
2016/17 | 7.5k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 8.7k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.4k | Full Time Education |
2017/18 | 4.9k | Ceased to Care 35hours |
| 9.3k | Earnings over CA Limit |
| 0.2k | Full Time Education |
Data on specific earnings thresholds as requested is not recorded.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people of each gender were sentenced in the West Yorkshire Police Force area to immediate custody for a first offence in each year since 2008; and for which offences such people were sentenced.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
The sentencing framework and sentencing guidelines apply equally to all offenders. Sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case. This will include the seriousness of the offence, including all aggravating and mitigating factors, and a guilty plea.
Defendants are now more likely to be convicted for committing crime and sent to prison for longer than they were a decade ago. In addition criminals convicted since 2010 are more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence, both overall and for a first time offence.
Table 1 shows the number of offenders given an immediate custodial sentence in the West Yorkshire Police Force Area for their first offence, by offence class and gender 2008 -2013.
Asked by: Sarah Teather (Liberal Democrat - Brent Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how much each local authority returned to his Department in unused discretionary housing payment funding in 2013-14.
Answered by Steve Webb
Local authorities are required to submit their claims for funding for Discretionary Housing Payments by 30 April following the end of the financial year.
Until the returns have been received from each authority, we are not in a position to say how much of this funding has been unused.
At the end of the 2012/13 year, of the £67,906,916 made available by central Government towards Discretionary Housing Payments, £12,453,471 (18.34%) was unspent.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average custodial sentence was for people of each gender sentenced in the West Yorkshire Police Force area to immediate custody for (a) summary only offences, (b) either way offences and (c) indictable only offences; and for which offences such people were sentenced.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
The sentencing framework and sentencing guidelines apply equally to all offenders. Sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case. This will include all aggravating and mitigating factors, the criminal history of the offender and a guilty plea.
Defendants are now more likely to be convicted for committing crime and sent to prison for longer than they were a decade ago. In addition criminals convicted since 2010 are more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence, both overall and for a first time offence.
Offenders sentenced at all courts, by gender, class type, offence type in West Yorkshire police force area from 2008 to 2012 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. In many cases the numbers are too small for the average custodial sentence length to be meaningful.
Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.
Asked by: Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 284W, on Muslim prisoners, how many and what proportion of Muslim prisoners included in the figures listed for 2013 have converted to that religion since they arrived in prison; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
Information on the number of prisoners who convert to each religion (including Islam) whilst in prison is not held centrally. The data held centrally relates to prisoners' current declared religion, not any previously declared religion.
In order to provide data relating to offender conversions to Islam in prison, it would be necessary to manually examine the individual prison records of over 11,700 Muslims in prison as at 31 December 2013 - this could only be done at disproportionate cost.