Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which providers his Department has awarded national employment support contracts to in the last five years.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The following Prime organisations have been awarded national employment support contracts in the last 5 years.
Capita Group Plc
Fedcap Employment Limited
G4S Facilities Management (UK) Ltd.
Ingeus UK Ltd
Jobs 22 Ltd
MAXIMUS UK Services Limited
Reed in Partnership
Seetec Pluss Ltd
Serco Group
Shaw Trust
The Growth Company Ltd
Tracing Services Limited
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total value has been of contracts held by their Department with (a) G4S, (b) Serco and (c) Capita in each year since 2020.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Details of Government contracts from 2016 above £10,000, and £25,000 in the wider public sector, are published on Contracts Finder.
Under the Governments Transparency agenda, all spend data over £25,000 is published and can be found at DWP: departmental spending over £25,000 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) suspected and (b) confirmed cases of covid-19 have been reported among security guards working in job centres in each month since June 2020.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Table 1 provides a breakdown of the suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported by G4S for their security officers, with the respective jobcentre between 1 June 2020 and 30 September 2020.
There were six confirmed cases and 40 suspected cases (46 in total) recorded for the specified timeframe (indicated in Table 2) across England, Scotland and Wales.
Any confirmed cases in a DWP office are dealt with by appropriate level of cleaning, up to a deep clean, regardless of whether this is as a result of a member of staff testing positive, or a contractor, agency worker or customer.
Table 1 – Reported suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases by G4S for their security officers by jobcentre from June 2020. Please note G4S are a contracted supplier to the Department, these are not DWP staff.
DATE | SITE | STATUS |
01/06/2020 | DWP LONDON KINGS CROSS | SUSPECTED |
02/06/2020 | DWP BLACKWOOD VISION HOUSE | CONFIRMED |
08/06/2020 | DWP NORTHAMPTON FRANCES HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
10/06/2020 | DWP FAREHAM NEW CIVIC CENTRE | SUSPECTED |
15/06/2020 | DWP BELPER KING STREET | SUSPECTED |
19/06/2020 | DWP LEICESTER CHARLES STREET | SUSPECTED |
22/06/2020 | DWP SLOUGH UPTON LODGE | SUSPECTED |
22/06/2020 | DWP ACCRINGTON OAKBANK HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
26/06/2020 | DWP DIDCOT THE BROADWAY | SUSPECTED |
06/07/2020 | DWP LONDON POPLAR DODD STREET | SUSPECTED |
22/07/2020 | DWP HULL BRITANNIA HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
30/07/2020 | DWP CRAWLEY GRESHAM HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
31/07/2020 | DWP BRADFORD LEEDS ROAD | SUSPECTED |
09/08/2020 | DWP DERBY HOLBORN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
11/08/2020 | DWP BARNSLEY COOPER HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
17/08/2020 | DWP BEDFORD WYVERN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
20/08/2020 | DWP BLYTH BRIDGE HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
21/08/2020 | DWP TONBRIDGE BRADFORD STREET | SUSPECTED |
24/08/2020 | DWP DEREHAM ELIZABETH HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
26/08/2020 | DWP LEEDS SOUTHERN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
01/09/2020 | DWP HEMSWORTH LOW HALL | CONFIRMED |
02/09/2020 | DWP CUMBERNAULD SOUTH MUIRHEAD | SUSPECTED |
04/09/2020 | DWP GLASGOW BENALDER STREET | SUSPECTED |
08/09/2020 | DWP CHESTER LE STREET STATION RD | SUSPECTED |
09/09/2020 | DWP WORCESTER VINE HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
10/09/2020 | DWP SOUTHEND TYLERS HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
14/09/2020 | DWP READING ADELPHI HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
15/09/2020 | DWP DONCASTER CROSSGATE HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
16/09/2020 | DWP ROTHERHAM CHANTRY HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
16/09/2020 | DWP PLYMOUTH OLD TREE COURT | SUSPECTED |
17/09/2020 | DWP HONITON HIGH STREET | SUSPECTED |
17/09/2020 | DWP SOLIHULL NEW ROAD | SUSPECTED |
20/09/2020 | DWP BLACKBURN ORCHARD HOUSE | CONFIRMED |
20/09/2020 | DWP HALIFAX CROSSFIELD HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
21/09/2020 | DWP NOTTINGHAM PEARSON BUILDINGS | SUSPECTED |
22/09/2020 | DWP BEVERLEY CROSSKILL HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
24/09/2020 | DWP BIRMINGHAM SOHO ROAD | CONFIRMED |
24/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
24/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
24/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
25/09/2020 | DWP BLAYDON ST CUTHBERTS WAY | SUSPECTED |
26/09/2020 | DWP LETCHWORTH PEOPLES HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
28/09/2020 | DWP BIRMINGHAM YARDLEY | SUSPECTED |
28/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | CONFIRMED |
29/09/2020 | DWP GLASGOW SHETTLESTON ROAD | CONFIRMED |
29/09/2020 | DWP GLASGOW SHETTLESTON ROAD | SUSPECTED |
Table 2 – Number of suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported by G4S for their security officers working in jobcentres across England, Scotland and Wales.
MONTH | TOTAL CASES REPORTED | SUSPECTED CASE | CONFIRMED CASE |
JUNE | 9 | 8 | 1 |
JULY | 4 | 4 | 0 |
AUGUST | 7 | 7 | 0 |
SEPTEMBER | 26 | 21 | 5 |
TOTALS | 46 | 40 | 6 |
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in which job centres have (a) suspected and (b) confirmed cases of covid-19 been reported among security guards in each month since June 2020.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Table 1 provides a breakdown of the suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported by G4S for their security officers, with the respective jobcentre between 1 June 2020 and 30 September 2020.
There were six confirmed cases and 40 suspected cases (46 in total) recorded for the specified timeframe (indicated in Table 2) across England, Scotland and Wales.
Any confirmed cases in a DWP office are dealt with by appropriate level of cleaning, up to a deep clean, regardless of whether this is as a result of a member of staff testing positive, or a contractor, agency worker or customer.
Table 1 – Reported suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases by G4S for their security officers by jobcentre from June 2020. Please note G4S are a contracted supplier to the Department, these are not DWP staff.
DATE | SITE | STATUS |
01/06/2020 | DWP LONDON KINGS CROSS | SUSPECTED |
02/06/2020 | DWP BLACKWOOD VISION HOUSE | CONFIRMED |
08/06/2020 | DWP NORTHAMPTON FRANCES HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
10/06/2020 | DWP FAREHAM NEW CIVIC CENTRE | SUSPECTED |
15/06/2020 | DWP BELPER KING STREET | SUSPECTED |
19/06/2020 | DWP LEICESTER CHARLES STREET | SUSPECTED |
22/06/2020 | DWP SLOUGH UPTON LODGE | SUSPECTED |
22/06/2020 | DWP ACCRINGTON OAKBANK HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
26/06/2020 | DWP DIDCOT THE BROADWAY | SUSPECTED |
06/07/2020 | DWP LONDON POPLAR DODD STREET | SUSPECTED |
22/07/2020 | DWP HULL BRITANNIA HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
30/07/2020 | DWP CRAWLEY GRESHAM HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
31/07/2020 | DWP BRADFORD LEEDS ROAD | SUSPECTED |
09/08/2020 | DWP DERBY HOLBORN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
11/08/2020 | DWP BARNSLEY COOPER HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
17/08/2020 | DWP BEDFORD WYVERN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
20/08/2020 | DWP BLYTH BRIDGE HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
21/08/2020 | DWP TONBRIDGE BRADFORD STREET | SUSPECTED |
24/08/2020 | DWP DEREHAM ELIZABETH HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
26/08/2020 | DWP LEEDS SOUTHERN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
01/09/2020 | DWP HEMSWORTH LOW HALL | CONFIRMED |
02/09/2020 | DWP CUMBERNAULD SOUTH MUIRHEAD | SUSPECTED |
04/09/2020 | DWP GLASGOW BENALDER STREET | SUSPECTED |
08/09/2020 | DWP CHESTER LE STREET STATION RD | SUSPECTED |
09/09/2020 | DWP WORCESTER VINE HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
10/09/2020 | DWP SOUTHEND TYLERS HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
14/09/2020 | DWP READING ADELPHI HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
15/09/2020 | DWP DONCASTER CROSSGATE HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
16/09/2020 | DWP ROTHERHAM CHANTRY HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
16/09/2020 | DWP PLYMOUTH OLD TREE COURT | SUSPECTED |
17/09/2020 | DWP HONITON HIGH STREET | SUSPECTED |
17/09/2020 | DWP SOLIHULL NEW ROAD | SUSPECTED |
20/09/2020 | DWP BLACKBURN ORCHARD HOUSE | CONFIRMED |
20/09/2020 | DWP HALIFAX CROSSFIELD HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
21/09/2020 | DWP NOTTINGHAM PEARSON BUILDINGS | SUSPECTED |
22/09/2020 | DWP BEVERLEY CROSSKILL HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
24/09/2020 | DWP BIRMINGHAM SOHO ROAD | CONFIRMED |
24/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
24/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
24/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
25/09/2020 | DWP BLAYDON ST CUTHBERTS WAY | SUSPECTED |
26/09/2020 | DWP LETCHWORTH PEOPLES HOUSE | SUSPECTED |
28/09/2020 | DWP BIRMINGHAM YARDLEY | SUSPECTED |
28/09/2020 | DWP ESTON HADRIAN HOUSE | CONFIRMED |
29/09/2020 | DWP GLASGOW SHETTLESTON ROAD | CONFIRMED |
29/09/2020 | DWP GLASGOW SHETTLESTON ROAD | SUSPECTED |
Table 2 – Number of suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported by G4S for their security officers working in jobcentres across England, Scotland and Wales.
MONTH | TOTAL CASES REPORTED | SUSPECTED CASE | CONFIRMED CASE |
JUNE | 9 | 8 | 1 |
JULY | 4 | 4 | 0 |
AUGUST | 7 | 7 | 0 |
SEPTEMBER | 26 | 21 | 5 |
TOTALS | 46 | 40 | 6 |
Asked by: Jonathan Reynolds (Labour (Co-op) - Stalybridge and Hyde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the covid-19 sick pay policies implemented by G4S under the contracts they hold with her Department with respect to the (a) fair treatment of staff employed to deliver those contracts, (b) ability of those staff to self-isolate when they or others in their household are experiencing covid-19 symptoms as required by Government guidance and (c) effect on the (i) health, (ii) welfare and (iii) in-work efficiency of those staff members who have experienced covid-19 symptoms in the event that they return to work before they are fit to do so.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
G4S has followed Government health guidance and its employees who are sick / self-isolating were paid under its sick pay entitlement as per their terms and conditions of employment (Company Sick Pay or Statutory Sick Pay). Where DWP offices have been forced to close, G4S security officers have continued to receive full pay.
G4S has followed Government health guidance in respect of staff who are required to self-isolate if they or others are experiencing symptoms, they were paid under their sick pay entitlement as per their terms and conditions of employment (Company Sick Pay or Statutory Sick Pay).
G4S has their own Human Relations policy which includes the conducting of welfare calls during periods of ‘sick’ and return to work interviews with staff who are returning from a period of ‘sick’. Where it appears that a member of staff is still too unwell to return to work they will be asked to/agree to resume their sickness absence until they are fully recovered. Their absence period will recommence, as will the welfare calls and sickness payment in accordance with their statutory and contractual entitlement.
Asked by: Mark Tami (Labour - Alyn and Deeside)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training her Department has provided to (a) her Department's and (b) CAPITA call centre staff on the rules for backdating pension credit claims for mixed-age couples.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
G4S now provide the initial call service facility for Pension Credit. The contract with CAPITA ended in September 2018.
The Department has provided a comprehensive package of training material regarding the mixed age couple policy change to Pension Credit claim processing agents and call centre staff, who provide the initial Pension Credit ‘triage’ function. The training material specifically includes guidance on handling backdated claims to Pension Credit for mixed age couples, including highlighting the deadline of 13 August to potential claimants for making a backdated claim.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has contracts with external companies to provide call centre staff to advise social security claimants who contact DWP helplines.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The department has several contracts with external companies to answer calls from social security claimants across a range of DWP helplines.
Details as follows:
Supplier | Contract | Brief Description |
|
Serco | PIP | For customers wishing to make a claim for PIP |
|
| UC | For customers requiring an appointment for their UC claim |
|
Warm Home Discount | For Pension Credit customers requiring help with fuel bills |
| |
Package B |
|
| |
Support for Mortgage Interest | For customers requiring an Informed Discussion about help with mortgage interest |
| |
G4S | CMG Options | For separating parents requiring advice about maintenance options |
|
| |||
Package A |
|
| |
Teleperformance | Pension Wise | First point of contact for customers requiring a Pension Wise appointment |
|
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to re-evaluate the security of staff in jobcentres as a result of recent trends in the level of knife crime.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Department takes the safety of our staff and customers extremely seriously. All of our security control measures are under constant review, and every incident is carefully analysed to identify any weaknesses exposed. We are very aware of the increased threat of knife crime, and the staff of our security partners G4S are trained to recognise the potential threats and respond accordingly.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many security passes to access his Department have been issued to employees of (a) Serco, (b) Capita, (c) Atos, (d) Concentrix and (e) G4S over the last year.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
All security passes allowing access to the Department are issued locally and controlled by each office.
Centrally held records are not kept and the information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much security guards in his Department are paid.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
DWP do not directly employ any security guards, they are supplied via our PFI contractor Telereal Trillium who subcontract the supply of all security to G4S.
G4S pay rates (as of 1 January 2016) vary on geographical location and the average pay rate for each Government Office Region (GOR) is set out below:
GOVERNMENT OFFICE REGION | HOURLY PAY RATE (Average) |
GOR 1 Scotland | £7.84 |
GOR 2 North East | £7.84 |
GOR 3 North West | £7.85 |
GOR 4 Yorkshire & Humberside | £7.86 |
GOR 5 East Midlands | £7.86 |
GOR 6 West Midlands | £7.83 |
GOR 7 East of England | £8.38 |
GOR 8 Wales | £7.87 |
GOR 9 Southern | £8.39 |
GOR 10 London | £9.26 |
GOR 11 South West | £7.88 |
All G4S security guards/officers (irrespective of age) are already paid above the National Living Wage of £7.20/hour which will be introduced from 01-Apr-16.