Written questions by Babarinde.

What consideration he has given to reviewing criteria for those in receipt of Attendance Allowance to be able to access to the Motability scheme.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to help improve services to support adopted and looked after children transitioning to adulthood.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the extent to which services supporting adopted and looked after children meet their needs.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that the needs of people with autism are understood and accommodated by police forces.

Awaiting answer.

What arrangements are in place to ensure that claimants who have previously received support from a Disability Employment Advisor are known to all staff interacted with.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that students from countries experiencing armed conflict who have been awarded scholarships at UK universities can take up their places; and what steps he

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that relevant information on claimants’ learning difficulties, mental health conditions and other vulnerabilities is recorded and made accessible to Jobcent

DWP has established processes to identify, record and share relevant information about claimants’ circumstances, including vulnerabilities, so staff can provide appropriate support.Colleagues carry out vulnerability checks and record outcomes on DWP syste...

What recent assessment her Department has made on the impacts of the recent Court of Appeal judgment on the Coastguard Rescue Service.

Changing the CRS operating model was not something which we wanted to do, but is a mandated consequence of the Court of Appeal ruling. Careful consideration was given to the options for a revised operating model. The legal position, the operational implic...

Whether he plans to review sanctions that apply following a first missed appointment.

The Department keeps the operation of conditionality and sanctions policies and processes under regular review to ensure they remain clear, fair and effective.Details on the Department’s assessment and position on a number of benefit sanctions related mat...

What guidance his Department provides to Jobcentres on avoiding repeated (a) changes and (b) cancellations of appointments for claimants with learning difficulties and other vulnerabilities.

Jobcentre guidance emphasises identifying, recording and acting on a claimant’s individual needs, including any reasonable adjustments, accessibility requirements or support. This helps Work Coaches plan appointments in a way that reflects the claimant’s ...

What procedures are in place to ensure that claimants are immediately informed of their right to challenge a sanction and seek accessible support.

Claimants are clearly informed of their rights when a sanction decision is made. All sanction decision letters include details of what to do if a claimant disagrees with the decision, including how to seek a review and access support.When a claimant is no...

Whether she plans to enable supporters of vulnerable claimants to contact Jobcentres by telephone.

Universal Credit is a digital-first service, but it is not digital-only. Support is available by telephone and face to face where appropriate, including for vulnerable claimants or those who cannot access digital services. Claimants can opt to make and ma...

What his Department's policy is for staff (a) reviewing and (b) interviewing Universal Credit claimants records ahead of conducting appointments.

The Department for Work and Pensions expects staff to use relevant information held on DWP systems when preparing for and conducting Universal Credit appointments. This includes reviewing claimant circumstances, work search activity, agreed requirements a...

Whether her Department will require Jobcentres to provide claimants and their representatives with named representative for their designated contact officer.

When a claimant is allocated to a Work Coach or Case Manager they are currently provided with a named point of contact.

What training is provided to Jobcentre staff on supporting claimants with hidden disabilities.

DWP recognises the importance of providing learning to enable all Jobcentre staff in customer contact roles to meet the needs of all our claimants, including those with hidden disabilities. Jobcentre staff receive role specific learning, which: provides a...

If he will review communication on the Universal Credit journal to distinguish between different types of appointments, including digital and telephone appointments.

When a Universal Credit appointment is created the claimant is informed of the date, time and the channel of their appointment, whether it will take place by telephone, video (including a link to join) or face to face (with details of the venue). This inf...

What steps are taken to inform claimants when their Universal Credit journal will not be (a) monitored and (b) responded to, including for temporary administrative reasons.

Claimants are routinely informed of actions, requests and updates through journal messages, which are recorded on their UC account to ensure transparency and provide a clear audit trail of communications. DWP staff are required to leave journal messages w...

Whether he has considered introducing safeguards to prevent the withdrawal of Universal Credit payments where those payments are required to cover housing costs.

The Department has safeguards in place to help ensure customers can meet their housing costs and sustain their tenancies. This includes measures to protect customers’ income, such as capping deductions from the standard allowance at 15 per cent, as well a...

Innovation and Technology, what support she is providing to people facing redundancy due to the impact of AI technology on the employment market.

The Government recognises that artificial intelligence will reshape the labour market. Our approach is to ensure that workers are supported to adapt, benefit, and continue to participate in good, meaningful work throughout this transition. We are taking p...

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of AI-related professional displacement in employment for graduates and school leavers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that young people are supported to succeed in a labour market being reshaped by artificial intelligence, including graduates and school leavers entering employment for the first time. We have established a new Early...