Written questions by Huq.

What steps she is taking to support employment opportunities for people aged over 25.

This Government is committed to supporting everyone to get into and on in work. In addition to delivering a Youth Guarantee, the Get Britain Working White Paper and Pathways to Work Green Paper set out ambitious reforms to employment support that will benefit people aged over 25: a new Jobs and Careers Service, with an enhanced focus on skills and careers; and targeted support to reduce health related economic inactivity. Specific DWP programmes and initiatives that support employment opportunities for people aged over 25 also include: Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), to provide short-term training and work experience linked to real job vacancies, enabling unemployed benefit claimants of all ages to gain sector-specific skills and transition into employment.DWP Train and Progress: a flexible training offer that allows claimants to undertake skills development while receiving benefits, tailored to local labour market needs.The Restart Programme, which offers up to 12 months intensive support for long-term unemployed individuals, including personalised coaching, skills training, and job matching services.The 50 Plus Choices Programme, to help older workers remain in or return to the workforce. This programme includes Mid-life MOTs, delivered in Jobcentres, which provide an opportunity to review health, finances, and skills and signpost to suitable support.The Flexible Support Fund: a non-recoverable, discretionary fund used to remove barriers that prevent customers from taking up or progressing in work. Common barriers include travel costs, upfront childcare costs, and one-off support (such as essential work wear, tools, and equipment). It can also be used to procure training or education that enables customers to move into sustained employment, increase their earnings whilst in work, or move closer to the labour market. These measures form part of the Department’s broader strategy to reduce economic inactivity and boost workforce participation, ensuring that adults over 25 receive targeted and practical support to enter and progress in work.

If she will consider making provision for mandatory index-linked payments in pre-1997 defined benefit pension schemes.

Members of these pension schemes are understandably concerned at seeing inflation erode the value of their retirement income.Most schemes do pay some pre-1997 indexation, because of scheme rules or as a discretionary benefit. Analysis published last year by the Pensions Regulator shows that as of March 2023, only 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits. This information can be found at: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#f3a5fe60511a445f91112bd7dd8a64aeIt would be unreasonable to retrospectively legislate to increase the cost to schemes for benefits already earned, as these costs could not have been taken into account in the funding assumptions used to set contribution rates at the time.The Government’s pension reforms on the use of surpluses in defined benefit schemes will make it easier for individual schemes to make decisions that improve outcomes for both sponsoring employers and members, which could include discretionary benefit increases. These changes are being taken forward through the Pension Schemes Bill which had its second reading on Monday 7th July.The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has expressed that trustees should consider the situation of those members who would benefit from a discretionary increase and whether the scheme has a history of making such awards. TPR will be producing further guidance on surplus sharing once the legislation is in place.

What support her Department provides to people who suffer with disabilities after retirement.

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a weekly benefit for those over State Pension age who require care or supervision as a result of a physical or mental disability. AA is paid at two rates. A higher rate of £110.40 a week for claimants who need help or supervision for both day and night or who are terminally ill. And a lower rate of £73.90 for claimants who need frequent help or supervision during the day or night. AA provides financial support towards the extra costs faced by those with a severe disability. It is neither means-tested, nor based on National Insurance contributions paid and recipients can choose how they wish to spend it. Receipt of AA can provide a passport to additional amounts in means-tested benefits (notably Pension Credit and Housing Benefit) for those on low incomes and to Carer’s Allowance for the person providing care for them.

What steps her Department is taking to help support disabled people in the workplace.

It is vital that workplaces are inclusive so disabled people have the same opportunities to get work, stay in work and progress in their careers. That is why I have asked Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former boss of John Lewis, to lead an independent review into what more employers and Government can do together to support disabled people in work. His interim review was published last month, and his final report will be in the summer.

Whether her Department uses the family test; and what her Department's policy is on the publication of family test impact assessments.

DWP uses the Family Test during policy development and promotes its use across government.Family Test assessments are not routinely published by DWP. Decisions on the publication of Family Test assessments fall within the responsibility of each Government department.