Written questions by Brewer.

Pursuant UIN 87565 what steps his Department is taking to address the challenges it has identified in the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for young people in supported accommodation, and whether a timetable has been set for considering potential reforms.

As confirmed at Autumn Budget, we will be introducing new earned income disregards for those in receipt of Housing Benefit and live in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation. This will help smooth the transition between the Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, and reduce the financial cliff edge for individuals in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation as they move into work or increase their hours. This will require legislative changes and be accompanied by IT changes made to local authority IT systems. In preparation for this, we have already begun engagement with stakeholders to ensure that the implementation meets the needs of those affected. This is accompanied by clear communications to support local authorities, housing providers and third sector organisations to ensure that eligible customers are aware of and able to utilise this change. The new disregards will be in place from Autumn 2026.

What assessment his Department has made, in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive, of the potential impact of the Construction Industry Training Board levy on health and safety outcomes in the construction sector; what consideration his Department has given to the potential impact of the Construction Industry Training Board levy on the profitability of construction firms; and what factors have informed the decision not to undertake an assessment of those impacts following the transfer of responsibility for the Board on 16 September 2025.

Meeting the skills needs of the construction workforce is vital to delivering the Government’s Plan for Change and the Industrial Strategy. An independent review of the Industry Training Boards (ITBs) was carried out by Mark Farmer in 2023, which considered their role and impact. This review highlighted the ITBs’ important role in developing industry skills, raising competency and improving productivity. It also identified a strong case for reform to ensure the ITBs are equipped to meet the workforce challenges facing the construction and engineering construction sectors.The Department for Work and Pensions is considering reforms to the ITBs in line with the recommendations of this review. This includes launching a consultation on 23 March 2026 seeking views on a proposal to bring together the Construction Industry Training Board and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board together in a single body, to enhance their impact and efficiency in meeting employers’ skills needs.

What methodology will be used to determine the distribution of funding through the Crisis and Resilience Fund for low-income oil heating households; and whether households in North East Hampshire constituency will be eligible.

In England, £27 million of funding will be delivered via the Crisis and Resilience Fund to support low-income households reliant on oil for heating. £842 million a year was already committed through the Crisis and Resilience Fund at Spending Review 2025, which all unitary and upper tier authorities in England will already receive funding from to support vulnerable and low-income households with financial shocks, including increases to essential costs such as energy. Funding has been allocated to local authorities in a way that accounts for deprivation levels as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation and the number of households using heating oil according to census data. To ensure the funding is targeted where it is most needed, only local authorities where more than 1% of the population use heating oil for central heating will receive the additional funding. Hampshire has been allocated £586,569 to distribute to households the local authority considers most in need. Figures will also be published on gov.uk in due course and we have shared this information with all councils that will receive funding.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing MPs with formal opportunity to scrutinise the annual changes to pension thresholds for eligible pensions that live overseas.

The Social Security Benefits up-rating Regulations 2026 are consequential on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026. The regulations are subject to the negative procedure. They were laid on 6 March 2026 and will come into force on the same date as the Up-rating Order on 6 April 2026. This is a convention that has been in place for a number of years including under the Lib Dem coalition.

What steps his Department is taking to support young people in supported accommodation.

It remains the department’s priority to support young people in supported accommodation. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides support with rent and other living costs through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit to eligible individuals (including young people) living in supported accommodation. Subject to criteria, individuals may be eligible for help with housing costs through Housing Benefit, to pay all or part of their rent and any eligible service charges. In 2023, DWP spent an estimated £4.1bn on Housing Benefit and Universal Credit housing entitlement for people living in supported accommodation. To drive up quality of provision for people in supported accommodation, DWP is working alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement measures arising from the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act. A government response to the first consultation on the Act is due to be published as soon as possible. We also acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for working age customers residing in supported and temporary accommodation. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions will be taken in the round and in the context of the current fiscal environment.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring all operatives entering a UK home to undertake gas work to display their Gas Safe Register accreditation and ID.

The Gas Safe Register (GSR) operates under an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to maintain the register of businesses and operatives who are competent to undertake gas work in the UK. It is a requirement under GSR’s Rules of Registration for engineers to carry an in-date, valid ID card which displays who the holder is, and what gas work they are competent to perform. HSE continues to advise consumers to always verify the identity and credentials of engineers or persons entering their property.The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (1998) requires gas-fuelled appliances to be installed by a competent and Gas Safe Registered engineer. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no power to restrict online or physical sale of gas appliances or parts. HSE strongly advises that gas appliances, flues and pipework are installed, regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) a nationwide implementation of a digital verification tool to ensure only qualified professionals can purchase gas critical products or parts and (b) a UK inventory register of gas critical products and parts to support this.

The Gas Safe Register (GSR) operates under an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to maintain the register of businesses and operatives who are competent to undertake gas work in the UK. It is a requirement under GSR’s Rules of Registration for engineers to carry an in-date, valid ID card which displays who the holder is, and what gas work they are competent to perform. HSE continues to advise consumers to always verify the identity and credentials of engineers or persons entering their property.The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (1998) requires gas-fuelled appliances to be installed by a competent and Gas Safe Registered engineer. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no power to restrict online or physical sale of gas appliances or parts. HSE strongly advises that gas appliances, flues and pipework are installed, regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) vulnerable adults and (b) adults with learning difficulties are adequately supported in managing rent payments under Universal Credit in cases where direct payments to landlords have been cancelled and individuals are unable to manage the new arrangements independently.

Housing costs can be paid direct to landlords at any point during a Universal Credit claim where the claimant is vulnerable or has rent arrears or there is a risk of eviction. The need for such an arrangement may be identified by DWP staff or requested by the claimant, their appointee, caseworker or landlord. Landlord payments are only removed where claimants are able to manage their own affairs or where they ask for this and we are satisfied that it’s in their best interests.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Construction Industry Training Board levy on (a) the profitability of the construction sector in the past five years and (b) the level of health and safety in that sector.

Responsibility for the Construction Industry Training Board transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 September 2025. The Secretary of State has not yet made any assessment of the potential impacts of the Construction Industry Training Board’s levy. Responsibility for health and safety within the construction industry in England sits with the Health and Safety Executive.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43700 on Access to Work Programme, what progress her Department has made on clearing outstanding payments through the streamlined process for payments for the Access to Work Plus scheme; and if she will make an estimate of the total amount of (a) outstanding payments and (b) outstanding payments for applicants in North East Hampshire constituency.

Significant progress has been made to clear outstanding payments through the streamlined payments process for the Access to Work Plus scheme. The majority of Access to Work Plus applications have been processed and awards have been made. There are two outstanding claims from 13 and 14 August 2025 currently being processed. Information on the total outstanding payments by region is not recorded, therefore estimates cannot be provided.

What steps her Department is taking to improve the Child Maintenance Service's complaints procedure.

DWP introduced a single tier complaint model in 2020-2021 to ensure the process of making a complaint in DWP was simple and consistent for our customers. The single tier model put complaints handling back into specialist complaints teams, enabling the Department to build capability and improve its complaints handling.We have also launched a new Complaints Quality Standards Framework, implementing quality assurance measures that align with the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO’s) complaints standards to embed consistency into our complaints handling.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that paying parents do not conceal (a) earnings and (b) investments to evade child maintenance payments.

Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the most recent available full tax year. This allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately. Use of historic income ensures a stable calculation, which we know from customer feedback is valued as it enables parents to rely on maintenance for financial planning purposes.In the event a receiving parent believes a paying parent’s earnings are not captured in the standard calculation using HMRC gross income data, they can apply for a variation, under which certain other categories of income can be considered.Cases involving complex income can be investigated by the Financial Investigation Unit. This is a specialist team which can request information from financial institutions (such as banks, investment companies and mortgage companies) to check the accuracy of information that the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is given. If any discrepancies are found, then they can implement a correct maintenance liability that is supported by CMS legislation.The Department is currently reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose. This has included updating the underlying research and considering how we ensure the calculation reflects current and future societal trends.

If she will make an assessment of the accuracy of the Child Maintenance Service system for assessing payments for (a) paying and (b) receiving parents.

Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the latest tax year available. This allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately. Any income subject to income tax, including bonuses and overtime received by an employed paying parent, is included within their gross weekly income when calculating a child maintenance liability.For self-employed paying parents, the gross income used in a maintenance calculation is provided by HMRC in the first instance. HMRC will provide details of the gross taxable profit of the paying parent's business, for the most recent complete tax year.The scheme relies on HMRC to provide accurate income information that aligns with tax legislation in order to make a child maintenance calculation, according to generally applicable rules.In the event a receiving parent believes a paying parent’s earnings are not captured in the standard calculation using HMRC gross income data, they can apply for a variation, under which certain other categories of income can be considered.Cases involving complex income can be investigated by the Financial Investigation Unit. This is a specialist team which can request information from financial institutions (such as banks, investment companies and mortgage companies) to check the accuracy of information that the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is given. If any discrepancies are found, then they can implement a correct maintenance liability that is supported by CMS legislation.

What the average waiting time is between submitting an application for Access to Work Plus and (a) an in-person assessment, (b) a funding decision and (c) payment.

Access to Work Plus applications are prioritised and pulled from the standard Access to Work application queue. The average clearance time for Access to Work applications which include Access to Work Plus is 25-days. Once requested an enhanced Access to Work Plus assessment is expected to be returned within 12 days. The Access to Work payment average clearance time is 10-days, this includes Access to Work Plus, providing all the information has been submitted, the same as for standard Access to Work. Clearance times are currently taking longer due to the increasing demand for Access to Work. We are committed to reducing waiting times for Access to Work and have streamlined delivery practices and increased the number of staff processing applications and claims.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) simplify the paperwork and (b) make online submissions possible for Access to Work Plus applications.

Access to Work Policy has worked collaboratively with the Supported Business Steering Group to develop Access to Work Plus. The Access to Work Plus processes are reviewed on a regular basis and work is currently underway to streamline the claims process. To improve customer service and streamline processes, Access to Work is continuing to develop its digital offer. There is already an Access to Work online application process, which Access to Work Plus customers can use, but as Access to Work Plus is limited to a small number of customers there are no immediate plans to develop a separate online application process.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that all DWP caseworkers assessing employees in the Access to Work Plus scheme are fully trained on the scheme’s requirements.

Since Access to Work Plus began testing in 2022, Access to Work has a dedicated team of Case Managers who process Access to Work Plus applications. Case Managers underwent training to ensure the policy intent was understood and being applied consistently. There are regular reviews to ensure that DWP Case Managers understand the scheme’s requirements.

What steps the Government is taking to ensure that companies and charities are paid on time in the Access to Work Plus Scheme.

To enable charities and companies to receive timely payments, officials have been working in collaboration with these organisations to explore how the Access to Work Plus claims process can be made easier for their employees. In March 2025, to ensure payments can be made swiftly, a streamlined claims process was put in place to clear outstanding claims for payment. Guidance on the new process has been issued to charities and companies, and officials continue to work with the charities and companies to develop longer term improvements to the employees’ claims process.