Written questions by Cross.

For what reason the application of inflationary increases on pre-1997 defined benefit pension entitlements is limited to schemes within the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme; and whether he plans to extend this policy to other defined benefit schemes.

The Government has brought forward legislation to introduce annual CPI-linked increases, capped at 2.5 per cent, on compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme based on pensions built up before 6 April 1997. These increases will apply prospectively (i.e. to payments going forward) and where the original scheme rules provided for such increases.

How many pensioners in receipt of a Winter Fuel Payment in 2023-24 were no longer eligible in 2024-25.

It is estimated that 9.2 million pensioners who received a WFP in 2023/24 were not eligible for a WFP in 2024/25. This estimate was published in the OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Whether the Health and Safety Executive plans to create a dedicated department within the Energy Division of the Hazardous Industries Directorate to take responsibility for battery energy storage system safety.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) deploys its resources to deliver risk based proportionate regulation of workplaces, including battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities. This approach is set out in HSE’s Regulatory approach – (Regulation of health and safety at work) and in HSE's Enforcement Policy Statement (EPS) (Enforcement Policy Statement) . There are no current plans to establish a dedicated department to take responsibility for BESS, however a cross HSE group of inspectors, scientists and policy makers continue to monitor developments in relation to batteries and other new and emerging technologies.The Health and Safety at Work Act places legal duties on employers to manage risks to employees and anyone else who may be affected. There is a robust regulatory regime in place which addresses the risks associated with battery energy storage systems.

With reference to Chapter three of the Government's Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November 2024, if she will publish an outline of the scope of the Government's planned health and disability benefit reforms; what her planned timetable is implementing the reforms; and whether she has plans to consult (a) affected individuals and (b) relevant stakeholders on the proposals before the publication of the Spring 2025 Green Paper.

We are working to develop proposals for health and disability reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper in Spring. This will launch a consultation on the proposals, with a conclusion to be set out in a white paper later this year. This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals, where appropriate, with disabled people and representative organisations. Ahead of the formal consultation for the Green Paper, we have already started to explore ways of engaging with disabled people and their representatives, including through stakeholder roundtables and public visits. We look forward to progressing these initiatives over the coming months.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Get Britain Working, published in November 2024, when she plans to publish details of the planned public consultation; and what the timeline will be for different mechanisms of stakeholder engagement.

The Get Britain Working White Paper outlines the government's commitment to engage with stakeholders on the detailed policy development and implementation of reforms.We are engaging with disabled people, and others with relevant expertise and experience, to consider how to address challenges and build a better system. We are working to establish the Disability Advisory Panel which will consult disabled people to ensure their views and voices are at the heart of the design and delivery of our reforms.To inform our approach, we have met with external and internal stakeholders, including the NHS Confederation, Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel, and representatives from the Disability Charities Consortium and Disabled People’s Organisation Forum England.Further engagement will begin based on the findings from the Keep Britain Working review discovery phase, which is expected to be published in March 2025.We are working to develop proposals for reform to the system of health and disability benefits and will set them out in a Green Paper in the spring.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the time frame in which bereavement support can be claimed.

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) helps people with short-term bereavement costs, by way of a lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. The lump sum has a 12 -month, and each instalment a 3- month, time limit for claiming. A person would need to claim BSP 21 months late to forfeit the entire benefit. So, for example, if someone was 6 months late in claiming BSP they would still get the lump sum and over a years’ worth of monthly payments. The 3-month time limit for the monthly payments is consistent with most social security benefits. This rule is absolute, does not allow for discretionary backdating and is set out in legislation.