Written questions by Coyle.

Whether she has taken steps to ensure (a) police and (b) security services receive adequate training to (i) identify and (ii) tackle instances of transnational repression of (A) people from Hong Kong with BNO status and (B) other people in the UK.

The UK does not tolerate any attempt to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas, including people from Hong Kong with BNO status. We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. This involves taking a proactive approach to countering the most acute forms of state-directed threats to individuals.The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, including those actions which amount to transnational repression, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats. As we implement the Act we are ensuring all relevant authorities have a good understanding of the threats many foreign powers present.Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact their local police in the first instance. In the event that a person believes they are subject to an imminent threat, they should call 999.

When the Occupational Health Taskforce (a) last met and (b) is scheduled to next meet.

As outlined in the previous Government’s response to the Occupational Health: Working Better consultation (published on 23 November 2023), an expert occupational health taskforce led by Dame Carol Black was established in February 2024 to explore the development of a new voluntary framework for OH provision. The taskforce last met on 26th April 2024 and Government is reviewing how best to progress the evidence, stakeholder views and insights gathered as part of the policy development previously undertaken for this work.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a quality assurance process for status determination statements.

The Government keeps all tax policy and legislation under review. To help customers make an informed decision on a worker’s status for tax, HMRC provides comprehensive online guidance that explains the relevant factors and tests and how to apply them. HMRC also provides the Check Employment Status for Tax tool (CEST) for free to help customers determine the employment status for tax of an engagement. CEST was developed alongside tax specialists and HMRC will stand by a determination from CEST if the tool was used in accordance with HMRC guidance. HMRC regularly engages with stakeholders and reviews its guidance products. HMRC will amend or add to guidance in response to stakeholder feedback where this improves the content or customer experience.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Christians Against Poverty entitled Deficit budgets: The cost to stay alive, published in September 2024.

We are committed to tackling poverty and good quality work will be the foundation of our approach. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty, but too many people are being denied the security and dignity that comes with being in good work. The Get Britain Working White Paper, to be set out in the Autumn, will develop measures to reduce inactivity and help people to find better paid and more secure jobs. Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce has started urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025 and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. This will include listening to the voices of children living in poverty and their families. We need a modern and effective social security system that is fit for purpose which is why we have committed to reviewing Universal Credit and listening to the full range of views on potential changes. For those most in need, we have extended the Household Support Fund for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual. As has been done for previous schemes, the Fund is available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the cost of essentials.

Whether she plans to meet with the Safe Sick Pay campaign to discuss the rate of Statutory Sick Pay.

My officials met with representatives from the Centre for Progressive Change to discuss measures to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay on the day of the Employment Rights Bill introduction. As announced in the Next Steps to Make Work Pay, the Government will shortly publish a consultation on what the percentage replacement rate for those earning below the current flat rate of Statutory Sick Pay should be. I welcome responses from the Centre for Progressive Change and other stakeholders to this consultation.

How much (a) housing benefit and (b) UC equivalent allowance was paid directly to councils in each of the last three years.

The information requested for Universal Credit is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. The information requested for Housing Benefit may be found by using the Detailed Housing Type and the Payment Destination fields in the “Housing Benefit - Data from April 2018” dataset in Stat-Xplore ((Stat-Xplore - Log in (dwp.gov.uk)). Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. An account is not required to use Stat- Xplore; the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions. The Department is working towards developing these statistics internally so that we will be in a position to answer similar Parliamentary Questions in the future.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of automating pension credit payments without an application process for claimants reaching retirement age on universal credit.

Households in receipt of Universal Credit are likely to see a significant change in their financial situation on reaching state pension age – at which point they may become entitled to retirement income such as the state pension, occupational or private pension or other financial product. It cannot therefore be assumed that entitlement to Universal Credit will also mean entitlement to Pension Credit. Eligibility to Pension Credit and the amount of any award will depend on a household’s particular financial and personal circumstances on reaching retirement age. This can only be established once a successful claim is made and will be based on a range of decisions which cannot all be automated.

How many people applying for pension credit have been in receipt of universal credit in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

When the threshold for pension credit was last reviewed; and when it is next set for review.

The rates of Pension Credit were last reviewed in Autumn 2023 as part of the Secretary of State’s annual statutory review of State pension and benefit rates. Following that review, the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee was increased by 8.5%, in line with the percentage increase in average earnings, to £218.15 a week for a single pensioner and £332.95 a week for a pensioner couple, with effect from 8 April 2024. Other Pension Credit amounts, including the maximum rate of Savings Credit and additional amounts for those with a severe disability or caring responsibilities, were increased by 6.7% in line with price inflation. The next review will be undertaken following the publication in October by the Office of National Statistics of the earnings and prices indices used to inform the review, with the new rates taking effect from 7 April 2025.

When the application process for Pension Credit was last reviewed.

We continually review the Pension Credit application process, with improvements made as recently as 3 September 2024. This led to the introduction of the online claim process, providing customers with a convenient alternative claim route, alongside the existing telephony and paper application methods. As the Department continues to modernise the Pension Credit service, we continue to review the user experience, balancing simplification of application with capturing the right information to ensure accuracy of award.

What plans her Department has to review exceptional circumstances criteria.

Where an applicant is not able to meet all the core eligibility requirements in the family Rules under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, including the financial requirement, the application will receive consideration of whether there are exceptional circumstances which would render refusal a breach of Article 8 (the right to respect for private land and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This involves considering whether refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or their family.The exceptional circumstances test is long established in case law and has been approved by the Supreme Court as upholding our obligations under Article 8 of the ECHR. The government keeps all policies under review.For further information on how the test is considered, information can be found at pp.59-71 of the following guidance: Family life (as a partner or parent) and exceptional circumstances (publishing.service.gov.uk).For specific information on exceptional circumstances in the context of recourse to public funds, guidance can be found at pp.10-11 of the following guidance: Permitting access to public funds (publishing.service.gov.uk).