Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there are legal protections in place to prevent employers from mandating people who are severely immunocompromised from having to return to their workplace after the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends in September 2021.
Answered by Paul Scully
There are a range of legal protections which could be engaged where it is difficult for an employee to return to work as a result of an underlying health condition. But the law does not distinguish specifically between particular health conditions.
An immunocompromised person may be considered to have a disability and benefit from protections under the Equality Act which include the duty on an employer to make reasonable adjustments. A disability under the Equality Act is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. A reasonable adjustment can include letting someone work somewhere else.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2021 to Question 28245 on Personal Independence Payments: Long Covid, how many people have applied for personal independence payments with covid-19 as a primary disability since March 2021.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the application process for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a claimant’s main disabling condition is only recorded centrally on Departmental computer systems at assessment. Disabilities are not recorded centrally at the point of application. The Department does not therefore hold data on the number of applicants to PIP with particular conditions. Only those who have a disability assessment determination decision will have a main disabling condition recorded for them.
The latest available data on the number of people who have “Coronavirus COVID-19” recorded as their primary disability following assessment for PIP each month can be found on Stat-Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. As described in my response to Question 28245, this disabling condition has been available to record for PIP assessments following a computer system change in March 2021. Due to the nature of the qualifying period for PIP claims, these cases will all be “long COVID” or “post-COVID syndrome” cases rather than initial COVID-19 infections.
Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the inclusion of covid-19 as a registrable cause for a long term health condition when applying for personal independence payment (PIP) since March 2021, what discussions his Department has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on developing a system of monthly published reporting of PIP application numbers to allow for additional tracking of the economic impact of long covid.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.
PIP statistics are published on a quarterly basis and include breakdowns by month. From March 2021, the published statistical series that include low level disability breakdowns (clearances, PIP cases with entitlement, MR registrations and clearances, Award Review & Change of Circumstance clearances) include the additional category “Coronavirus covid-19”. This reflects an operational change implemented in March 2021 to include this code on the PIP Computer System. This will allow us to track the volume of clearances with Coronavirus covid-19 as a primary disability and the corresponding volume/proportion of the PIP caseload. There are currently no plans to publish the PIP statistics on a monthly basis.
There are regular, ongoing discussions between the Secretary of State and Cabinet colleagues.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is planning to take over summer 2021 to help young people in receipt of statutory services to re-engage with those services as covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The department has ensured that children's social care services have continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
The department’s regional improvement teams are working with local authorities who are experiencing challenges in providing statutory social care services to children. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have restarted their inspection and revisit activity, which once again allows us to monitor and hold local areas to account for quality of services. We established a vulnerable children and young people survey of local authorities and have been reviewing data to give insight into the ongoing delivery of children’s social care services.
We are continuing to support local authorities to deliver services that meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Education, health and care plan quality and timeliness is something we have been monitoring through the COVID-19 outbreak and continue to do so. The NHS COVID-19 recovery plan includes measures that will support the recovery of health services for children with SEND and additional funding for respite services of £3 million. The published COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/973936/covid-19-mental-health-and-wellbeing-recovery-action-plan.pdf) also references various areas of support for children, including £31 million to be used to address particular challenges faced by individuals with a learning disability.
Therapeutic, speech and language services for children with SEND have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The department are working urgently with education settings, the relevant Royal Colleges, and the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that these issues are tackled. We have taken steps to remind schools and colleges that they should allow access to therapists and health professionals, and of their ability to use recovery and catch-up funding to secure further therapies within school.
We continue to provide support to families on low incomes raising children with disabilities or serious illnesses. We provided £40.8 million for the Family Fund in financial year 2020-21 to support over 90,000 families on low incomes raising children with disabilities or serious illnesses. This included £13.5 million to specifically respond to needs arising from the COVID-19 outbreak. This financial year a total of £27.3 million is available.
Beyond the support for children and young people in receipt of statutory services for children's social care and those with SEND, we are working across government to ensure that wider, targeted services are also available. NHS mental health services have remained open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and have deployed digital tools to enable them to connect with people and provide ongoing support. All NHS mental health trusts have provided 24/7 open access telephone lines (https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/covid-19-immediate-establishment-of-24-7-urgent-nhs-mental-health-telephone-support-advice-and-triage/) to support people of all ages, and other health services for children and families have continued to operate.
Additionally, we are ensuring that other key services such as early help, youth services and the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme are protected and there for children and young people who need them. We have asked social workers to make sure that children and young people known to children's social care are encouraged to make use of the HAF programme. The programme provides disadvantaged children across the country with enriching activities whilst supporting them to be healthy and active. I have written to all special and alternative provision schools to encourage them to offer Department for Education-funded summer school provision for their pupils and signposted them to HAF provision in their local areas where relevant.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure it meets the additional covid-19-related needs of disabled teachers during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has published guidance to support schools to understand how the Equality Act affects them and to fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010, available to view here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/315587/Equality_Act_Advice_Final.pdf. The Department expects all schools to adhere to all aspects of employment and disability legislation.
The guidance sets out that schools as employers are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments in relation to disability for their employees or potential employees. They must make reasonable adjustments to arrangements or practices to alleviate disadvantage. They must also take reasonable steps to provide any necessary auxiliary aids and services.
At each stage of the Department’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have listened to the latest medical and scientific advice. The Department has provided regularly updated guidance to support schools, colleges, and nurseries, with input from education leaders, unions, and sector bodies and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive. As the published guidance sets out, employers have a legal obligation to protect their employees from harm. The guidance is available is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance.
Schools, colleges, and nurseries should continue to follow the measures set out in the guidance. By assessing risk and implementing all measures, including ventilating occupied spaces and cleaning, schools will effectively manage risks and create an inherently safer environment.
All elements of the system of controls are essential in effectively minimising risks. The way different schools, colleges, and nurseries implement some of the requirements will differ based on their individual circumstances. PHE advises that the implementation of the system of controls based on a thorough risk assessment is a sufficient and appropriate way to reduce risk in schools, colleges, and nurseries.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report by the Office for National Statistics, Coronavirus and the social impacts on disabled people in Great Britain: February 2021, published 9 April 2021, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled people will be adequately protected in the event of a further wave of covid-19.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Rapid vaccine deployment is the most important means to protect people in the event of a further wave of COVID-19. We will continue to prioritise vaccines for those who are deemed to be most at risk, following the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. NHS Digital’s data shows that as of 13 June, 93.6% of the clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) population, which includes many disabled people, have been vaccinated with at least one dose. Of those, 95.7% have received a second dose.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the findings of the report Coronavirus and the social impacts on disabled people in Great Britain: February 2021 published 09 April 2021 by the Office of National Statistics that after allowing for factors such as underlying health conditions, socio-economic and geographic factors, disabled people were significantly more likely to have died from coronavirus between 24 January 2020 and the end of February 2021, what steps his Department is taking to investigate fully the causes of that increased risk of death.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
New research from the Office for National Statistics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine published on 16 June 2021, which also considers deaths from COVID-19 by disability status, concludes that a combination of circumstances explain the increased risk to disabled people but more information is needed to ascertain whether the findings are robust as well as which protective and policy measures should be put in place. We will continue to monitor the latest research and draw on the latest available evidence to inform policy-making.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps in response to reports of (a) lengthy queues for covid-19 test centres and (b) people with disabilities or learning difficulties being denied a covid-19 test as a result of healthcare staff deeming them unable to consent.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have not experienced significant reports of lengthy queues at test centres. However, NHS Test and Trace assess, review and adjusts testing services in response to changing demand and seeks to minimise waiting times wherever possible. Test sites have been located where there is the greatest need and mobile testing units are deployed in areas where there is highest demand.
At all test sites, those with disabilities or learning difficulties can be accompanied to assist with testing.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with disabilities and/or learning difficulties have been refused assisted tests at covid-19 test centres.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 8 June (HL Deb, col 1312), what steps they are taking to prioritise, in addition to need assessment, the provision of specialist job coaches for people with learning disabilities.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Department is committed to supporting claimants with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism move closer to the labour market or into work.
The increased number of work coaches will help the newly unemployed and also enable us to continue supporting those with complex needs, and to work with partners to ensure they get the help they need. People in particular disadvantaged groups will continue to benefit from support via the increased Flexible Support Fund and priority early access to the Work and Health Programme. In addition, claimants with learning disabilities are also able to access Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES) if they are further from the labour market.
From April 2021, we have strengthened our Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) role to include delivering direct support to claimants who require additional work related support and advice above our core work coach offer. DEAs continue to support all work coaches to deliver tailored, personalised support to all claimants with a disability or health condition. Since May, we are increasing our DEA resource from 685 nationally with the aspiration to reach 1000.
We have a number of initiatives and schemes to support claimants with health conditions such as: