Written questions by Milne.

Whether the Child Maintenance Service sends template letters to clients stating that a call was attempted in cases where no call was made.

Awaiting answer.

What the Child Maintenance Service's service level agreement is for contacting clients; and how compliance with that agreement is measured.

Awaiting answer.

Whether as part of the Timms Review his Department intends to make reductions in total PIP expenditure.

We have launched the Timms Review to ensure we have a system that supports disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence, including through employment.The Review is being co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard.The group has established its ways of working, themes for the Review, launched a Call for Evidence, and outlined its varied approach to evidence gathering. It will continue to meet regularly over the course of this year to determine the Review's strategic direction, priorities and its recommendations. I cannot pre-empt the outcome of this work, but the Terms of Reference for the Review stipulate that “the Review will operate within the OBR’s projections for future PIP expenditure”.

If his Department will publish figures for how many people are in receipt of a Universal Credit health award and classified as Severe Conditions Criteria.

Plans to publish Severe Conditions Criteria cases for people on Universal Credit health are included in the published UC WCA Release Strategy: Universal Credit WCA statistics: release strategy - GOV.UK

(a) how many people have been assessed at a PIP assessment as having a progressive and life-limiting condition who do not qualify for Special Rules, (b) are in receipt of a fixed-term award, and (c) what is the length of these fixed-term awards.

Awaiting answer.

Whether as part of the Timms Review his Department intends to make reductions in total PIP expenditure.

Awaiting answer.

When his Department plans to respond to the letter from the Hon. Member Horsham sent to the Minister for Pensions on 23 November 2025.

I apologise for the delay in responding to my Hon. Friend’s letter. A meeting has been arranged for the 22nd of April.

Progress his department has made on testing personalised employment support in the Wakefield Pathfinder pilots; and whether an assessment has been made of the potential impact on user experience.

As part of the first Jobs and Careers Service Pathfinder, launched in Wakefield in April 2025, we have been testing personalised employment support, including through a new Get Britain Working Coaching Academy and changes to claimant commitment appointments. Evaluation is ongoing and will focus on how personalised employment support is delivered both from a user and operational perspective. We are committed to publish evaluation findings in line with Government Social Research processes.

When the Department plans to publish the findings from its employment support pilot schemes; and what assessment has been made of their potential impact on employment outcomes.

The Department for Work and Pensions has adopted a test and learn approach across many of its employment support pilot scheme areas. The Government has committed to publish a report this spring which sets out more detail on how we are delivering the new Jobs and Careers Service. To evaluate the effectiveness of the eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers and the nine Economic Inactivity Trailblazers, the Department for Work and Pensions commissioned an evaluation starting in January 2026. This is expected to build evidence on the effectiveness of the initiative at improving employment outcomes, reducing economic inactivity, enhancing health and well-being, increasing participation in education and training, and strengthening systems integration. We expect to publish interim findings during the next two years and will develop the value for money assessment once longer-term impacts have developed. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-12-08/hcws1137

Whether the in-house replacement for the Department’s Find a Job digital service will (a) offer additional functions to the current service, (b) if those additional functions will be available on launch, and (c) if not available on launch, when such functions will be incorporated.

At the point of launch, the in-house replacement service will support equivalent functionality to the existing Find a Job service. After launch the service will go through regular test and learn iterations to introduce new innovations.

With reference to the in-house digital replacement for the DWP's Find a Job service, whether an assessment has been carried out of its potential impact on (a) jobseeker outcomes and (b) employers ability to find workforce, were it to launch with a reduction in provision when compared with the existing service.

The new service is designed to provide a parity of service from day one. We do not expect any negative impact on Jobseeker outcomes. The Department is continuously reviewing the readiness of the new service, and it remains on track. Over time the new service will be iterated in to provide a more enhanced experience for customers, in line with the ambition for the Jobs and Careers Service as outlined in the Get Britian Working White Paper.

Whether the Delivery Model Assessment undertaken by his Department for the new Jobs and Careers Service included an assessment of existing AI-powered technologies available in the private sector.

For the new jobs and careers service the Department considered a range of delivery options and enabling technologies to support service design and delivery, including the potential role of digital and data‑driven tools such as automation and artificial intelligence. The Department is preparing to undertake a market engagement exercise to understand the range of digital products and services that could support and enhance the Jobs and Career Service. The outcome of this engagement will help inform the future delivery strategy for the Jobs and Career Service. Any consideration of AI‑powered solutions is subject to the Department’s established governance, assurance, and ethical frameworks, including requirements on data protection, security, transparency, and value for money. The Department continues to monitor developments in AI‑enabled technologies and will consider their appropriate use where they can safely and effectively support delivery of the Jobs and Careers Service.

How many and what proportion of families subject to the household benefit cap are blended families.

The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to question 98653, whether the Department will release the number of people with multiple sclerosis who are in the Work Related Activity Group.

There were fewer than five people with multiple sclerosis as their primary condition who were claiming contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) in May 2025. Statistical disclosure control has been applied by rounding to the nearest 10 to avoid the release of confidential data. People claiming income-related Employment and Support Allowance are currently moving across to Universal Credit.

How many people with multiple sclerosis on contributory Employment and Support Allowance are in the (i) Support Group and (ii) Work-Related Activity Group.

The following table shows the volume of people with multiple sclerosis as their primary condition who were claiming contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) by Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) and Support Group (SG) in May 2025. VolumeWRAG..SG13,700Notes:- Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.- The data supplied is based on bespoke analysis of departmental datasets and has not been certified as National Statistics or Official Statistics.

Whether his Department plans to increase the availability of the test digital service for applicants for (a) the Personal Independence Payment and (b) other benefits in (i) Horsham constituency and (ii) other areas.

We are enabling customers to complete parts of their application online, as announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper. We are also planning to increase the number of face-to-face assessments. We are transforming the way in which DWP delivers services, including the provision of online and self-serve options, while protecting and improving other channels.

How many carers aged 18 to 21 receive (a) Universal Credit and Carer's Allowance and (b) the carer element of Universal Credit but not Carer's Allowance in England.

Data from February 2025 shows that there were 15,872 people aged 18-21 who received Universal Credit and Carer’s Allowance in England. The source for this figure is the benefit combinations dataset on Stat-Xplore. The department does not hold data on how many carers aged 18-21 in England receive UC and Carer’s Element but not Carer’s Allowance and to provide this would be at disproportionate cost.

What plans his Department has to work with the (a) Department of Health and Social Care, (b) Department of Education, (c) Carers Trust and (d) other organisations to ensure young adult carers can receive support through the Youth Guarantee.

The government is determined to provide carers of all ages with the recognition and support they deserve. Ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the Department for Education (DfE) have convened twice this year to discuss support for unpaid carers and consider opportunities to provide further recognition and support. My Right Hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability has met with Carers Trust on several occasions, and the department will continue to work collaboratively with groups representing and supporting carers. DWP and DfE are launching a Youth Guarantee to ensure young people aged 18-21 can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship, or help to find work. As part of the Youth Guarantee we are working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSA) to deliver 8 Trailblazers in England which are testing different approaches to identifying, engaging, and supporting young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. MSAs have developed their approaches with consideration to young people in their locality who need more support. As we set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper our Youth Guarantee will meet the needs of those facing disadvantages, including disadvantages related to unpaid caregiving.

If he will take steps to include people with lived experience of (a) fluctuating conditions, (b) invisible symptoms and (c) challenges with mobility in the membership of the core group overseeing the Timms Review.

The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts to ensure that expertise from a wide range of perspectives is drawn upon. This means the Government will share ownership and responsibility for how the Review runs and what it recommends. We are currently working through how to best co-produce the Review, taking into account the feedback from extensive stakeholder engagement over the summer. I anticipate it will be led by a core leadership group of around a dozen people, the majority of whom will be disabled people. Through co-production, it will be for this core leadership group – building from the Terms of Reference – to set the Review’s strategic direction, priorities and workplan. The Review will invite input from a wide range of perspectives. I will share more details about our approach to the Review, and recruitment of its leadership group, shortly.

If he will take steps to ensure that the Timms Review includes workstreams on the potential impact of (a) illness fluctuations, (b) invisible symptoms and (c) mobility on the PIP assessment process.

The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts to ensure that expertise from a wide range of perspectives is drawn upon. This means the Government will share ownership and responsibility for how the Review runs and what it recommends. We are currently working through how to best co-produce the Review, taking into account the feedback from extensive stakeholder engagement over the summer. I anticipate it will be led by a core leadership group of around a dozen people, the majority of whom will be disabled people. Through co-production, it will be for this core leadership group – building from the Terms of Reference – to set the Review’s strategic direction, priorities and workplan. The Review will invite input from a wide range of perspectives. I will share more details about our approach to the Review, and recruitment of its leadership group, shortly.