Every parliamentary written question tabled by Desmond Swayne this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–8 of 8 · Department for Work and Pensions
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 12-month limit on capital disregard applied to Armed Forces Compensation Scheme lump sum payments in Universal Credit on injured veterans and their families with caring responsibilities when a personal injury trust has not been entered into.
Awaiting answer.
If he will remove the requirement to set up a personal injury trust, placed on awards from Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for the purposes of Universal Credit, if claimants with such awards are to benefit from the capital disregard beyond one year.
Awaiting answer.
If he will modify proposals by Motability to reduce the standard mileage allowance and increase the excess mileage surcharge in order to accommodate the needs of of rural drivers with essential mobility needs.
Responsibility for the terms and administration of the Scheme sits with Motability Foundation and its Board of Governors. The Department for Work and Pensions meets quarterly with Motability Foundation, to discuss the Scheme’s operation. The changes to the leasing package were announced on 26 March and include reducing the mileage allowance from 20,000 per year to 10,000 per year. Changes only apply to new leases and there are no changes to the mileage allowance for existing leases. Motability Foundation has advised that approximately 75% of customers on the Scheme already use fewer miles than the proposed new mileage allowance. Motability understands that this will affect customers differently and is keeping these changes under review.
What assessment his Department has of the potential impact of removing the waiting period for statutory sick pay on the number of claims made by agency workers; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that the removal of the waiting period does not result in fraudulent or duplicate claims from agency workers.
Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is part of the Government’s commitment to implement our Plan to Make Work Pay. The Government conducted a Regulatory Impact Assessment here on the impact of the SSP measures, including the removal of the waiting period in the Employment Rights Bill. Whilst this is not a specific assessment on the impact on recruitment agencies or agency workers, the Government believes that the SSP measures strike the right balance between providing financial security to employees and limiting additional costs to employers, including agencies. The Bill ensures that people who work through employment agencies and employment businesses have comparable rights and protections to their counterparts who are directly employed. Employers, including those in the recruitment sector, are best placed to manage sickness absences and ensuring employees receive appropriate support. If employers have the right policies and practices in place, risks of inappropriate absenteeism can be mitigated. The Government intends to conduct a post-implementation review (PIR) of the Employment Rights Bill within five years of implementation. The impact of the measures to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay will be monitored on employers and employees alike. This can include considering the impact on workers in the agency sector.
With reference to the recommendations of the Third Report of Session 2023–24 of the Work and Pensions Committee, Defined benefit pension schemes, published on 26 March 2024, HC 144, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend schedule 7 of the Pensions Act 2004 to enable members of the Pension Protection Fund to receive indexation in respect of pensionable service prior to 5 April 1997.
We are committed to considering and reflecting on what we have heard regarding the issue of Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme rules on the indexation of pre-1997 pension accruals. We understand it is an important issue for those affected. The Pension Protection Fund’s assets and liabilities sit on the Government’s balance sheet, and any changes will have an impact on public finances. Any changes to the Financial Assistance Scheme will also impact the Exchequer and so requires careful consideration. The Government therefore needs to take its time to reflect on these complex matters which require a balanced approach for thoses receiving compensation, levy payers and taxpayers. We will continue to work closely with the Pension Protection Fund as we explore this important issue further.
What estimate she has made of spending on health and disability benefits by the end of the decade.
Incapacity and disability benefits spending is forecast to increase by £15.5 billion to £90.7 billion by 2029/30. This includes a rise in spending on working-age benefits from £10.3 billion to £65.4 billion. Without the 2025 Spring Statement measures, working-age benefits spending would be £4.5 billion higher by 2029/30.
What steps she is taking to restore online access to enable disabled drivers to confirm their duty-exempt status when renewing their vehicle licence.
A DWP service which enables disabled drivers to confirm their vehicle excise duty exemption when renewing their vehicle licence was upgraded on 12th March. An error with date formats affected disabled drivers with a September Date of Birth. They had to follow an alternative process to apply for exemption through the Post Office. As soon as the problem was identified, DWP Digital took steps to resolve it. The service was restored on Tuesday 22nd April at 11:09am. All disabled drivers, including those with a September date of birth, can now complete the check for duty exemption online. DWP Digital is taking steps to ensure this does not happen again with future service updates.
If she will make it her policy to abolish clawback by pension providers.
The aim of integrated or so-called ‘clawback’ schemes is to provide, overall, the same level of benefits before and after a person reaches State Pension age. A higher amount of occupational pension is paid before the member begins to receives their State Pension, thereby smoothing benefit income over time. The Government has no plans to abolish the provision of integrated pensions.