Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Snowden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 121–130 of 130 · Department for Work and Pensions
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of PIP claimants on the cost of reasonable adjustments required for disabled employees in the public sector.
Whether or not an employer makes a reasonable adjustment for an employee, and how much that costs, is independent of the benefit status of an employee, so no assessment has been made.
What steps she is taking to increase the number of job opportunities in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers advice. In Fylde and Lancashire our Jobcentre teams are work closely with Blackpool Borough Council and Fylde Borough Council as well as a range of employers and providers to create numerous job opportunities. Our Employer and Partnership Team support events within the community, recently this has included the Northwest Apprenticeship & Careers Expo 2025 and the Fylde Coast 'Work this Way' Jobs Fair. The team also encourage the take up in initiatives such as Sector Based Work Academies, Mentoring Circles, Apprenticeships and Work Experience as these help our customers meet employers and partners and explore all the opportunities available to them. We will provide an update on our plans to Get Britain Working and the steps we are taking in due course.
What steps she is taking to ensure people with physical disabilities are able to access job opportunities in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
The Government is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with physical disabilities, and have a range of support available so individuals can stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems. These include Additional Work Coach Support which provides disabled people and people with health conditions with increased one-to-one personalised support from their work coach to help them move towards, and into, work and access wider support including our employment programmes earlier. Support is now available in all Jobcentres across England, Scotland and Wales, informed by trialling in Jobcentres.Employers play an important role in addressing health and disability. The Disability Confident Scheme encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. The Minister for Social Security and Disability has been discussing ideas for making the Disability Confident scheme criteria more robust with stakeholders and will be bringing forward proposals for this in due course.To build on this, the government has commissioned “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review of the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces. The lead reviewer, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is expected to bring forward recommendations in Autumn 2025.
What estimate she has made of the number of eligible people who have applied for and are waiting to receive the winter fuel payment for winter 2024-25 in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
On 27 February 2025 we published Pension Credit applications and award statistics. This publication provides application volumes up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit Applications and Awards - February 2025.
What assessment she has made of recent trends in the level of in the unemployment rate in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
The information requested is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.aspGuidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of means testing the Winter Fuel Payment on levels of pensioner poverty in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
On 19 November 2024, the Secretary of State wrote to the Work and Pensions Select Committee to share internal government modelling produced by the Department outlining the number of pensioners in the UK estimated to move into poverty as a result of the policy change. This letter is available here Winter Fuel Payments eligibility change - Letter from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.It is not possible to provide poverty breakdowns at a constituency or county level.
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of means testing the Winter Fuel Payment on NHS services in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
The Government has had to make difficult decisions in view of the state of the public finances that it inherited, including the decision to target the Winter Fuel Payment on those on the lowest incomes. The decisions mean we are able to provide additional investment in the NHS. This is to the benefit of everyone, including pensioners, who rely on its services. The Government is working to reform the NHS in England through the 10-year health plan, to build a health service that is fit for the future. As a first step, at the Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6bn increase in day-to-day health spending in England and a £3.1bn increase in the capital budget over this year and next.
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on employment rates in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.
As part of the Government’s ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate, the Employment Rights Bill will make work more secure, boost wages, and help working people thrive. In Fylde, our Jobcentre Employer and Partnership Teams work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally. An example of this includes working closely with local employers, partners and providers to hold job fairs and events to support recruitments and supporting customers into sustainable employment. The Jobcentre also collaborates with the Local Authority, as well as other government departments and further education providers to improve employment opportunities for the people of Lancashire.
What the change is in the rate of unemployment in Fylde since the Autumn Budget 2024.
No estimate is available of the unemployment rate in Fylde since the Autumn Budget 2024. The latest estimates of unemployment, covers the period October 2023 – September 2024. This is available via ONS Nomisweb site: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp
How many people in Fylde constituency are awaiting winter fuel payments for 2024-25.
We do not hold the data requested at constituency level. However, where the customer is eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, the Department aims to make this payment within 2 weeks of the award of their qualifying benefit. Customers won't miss out on Winter Fuel Payments even if their qualifying benefit takes longer to process than usual. Statistics on Winter Fuel Payments are published annually. The latest publication contains data on Winter Fuel Payments made in 2023/24.