To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


View sample alert

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Friday 9th October 2020

Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to prevent people who are currently on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and will not benefit from the Job Support Scheme from being made redundant.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Job Support Scheme (JSS) is designed to protect jobs in businesses that are facing lower demand over the winter months due to COVID-19, to help their employees remain attached to the workforce.

It is widely recognised that some firms will be affected by coronavirus for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support these firms appropriately.

To provide additional support for firms to keep employees as economic demand returns, the Government is introducing the Job Retention Bonus, a one-off payment of £1,000 to employers for each employee who was ever furloughed, has been continuously employed until 31 January 2021 and is still employed by the same employer as of 31 January 2021.

Where firms make the decision that they cannot retain all of their staff over the longer run, the Government is ensuring that those looking for work are supported through:

  • A package of measures in the Plan for Jobs that helps people find work by significantly increasing help offered through Jobcentres and providing individualised advice through the National Careers Service. The Government has also launched the Kickstart Scheme, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people.
  • Temporary welfare measures announced in March including: £20 per week increase to the UC standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants. These changes will benefit new and existing claimants.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Friday 9th October 2020

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 officials working in job centres in each month since June 2020.

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

We do not hold the information in the format requested. Our records do not differentiate between those who self-isolate because they themselves have a suspected case of COVID-19 or because a family member is exhibiting symptoms.

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.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Friday 9th October 2020

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 officials in each month since June 2020.

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

We do not hold the information in the format requested. Our records do not differentiate between those who self-isolate because they themselves have a suspected case of COVID-19 or because a family member is exhibiting symptoms.

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.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Friday 9th October 2020

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


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Friday 9th October 2020

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


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Tuesday 29th September 2020

Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review her Department's policy on face-to-face appointments at job centres for (a) 18-24 year olds and (b) other people during the application of covid-19 restrictions requiring staff to work from home where possible.

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

In line with Public Health guidance and with safety measures in place across the Jobcentre network, face-to-face appointments can be booked with claimants who will benefit from this support, including young people. Updated guidance has been issued to Jobcentres and is reviewed regularly.

Our teams are designated as key workers, determined to serve our communities face-to-face, over the phone and online. As we double the number of Work Coaches, we will continue to expand our multi-channel engagement with claimants, including booking appointments across our network to support people face-to-face where they need it.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Tuesday 29th September 2020

Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy only to permit urgent face-to-face jobcentre appointments to take place during the application of covid-19 restrictions requiring staff to work from home where possible.

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

In line with Public Health guidance and with safety measures in place across the Jobcentre network, face-to-face appointments can be booked with claimants who will benefit from this support, including young people. Updated guidance has been issued to Jobcentres and is reviewed regularly.

Our teams are designated as key workers, determined to serve our communities face-to-face, over the phone and online. As we double the number of Work Coaches, we will continue to expand our multi-channel engagement with claimants, including booking appointments across our network to support people face-to-face where they need it.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Thursday 24th September 2020

Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has made in enabling appointments with work coaches to be held by video.

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

Tests of the use of video for appointments with Universal Credit Work Coaches started in July and are currently being tested with claimants and Work Coaches in five job centres across the UK. Tests continue to inform understanding of the benefits to claimants and Work Coaches, to identify where barriers may exist for some claimants and to identify any limitations that may need to be overcome. The tests will inform any future evaluation of the use of video as part of the Department’s operating model.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Thursday 24th September 2020

Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department’s policy is on the requirement to attend face-to-face appointments with work coaches at jobcentres; and whether any updated guidance has been issued to jobcentres.

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

In line with Public Health guidance and with safety measures in place across the Jobcentre network, face-to-face appointments can be booked with claimants who will benefit from this support.

Updated guidance has been issued to Jobcentres and is reviewed regularly.

As we double the number of Work Coaches, we will continue to expand multi-channel engagement with claimants, including booking appointments across our network to support people face-to-face where they need it.


Written Question
Jobcentres: Coronavirus
Monday 21st September 2020

Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job centres have closed as a result of safety concerns in relation to covid-19 since 1 August 2020; and if she will make a statement.

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

No job centres have closed as a result of safety concerns since the 1 August 2020.