Every parliamentary written question tabled by Clive Lewis this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–12 of 12 · Department for Work and Pensions
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes for 1950s-born women living in Norwich South constituency.
All women born since 6 April 1950 have been affected by changes to State Pension age. Estimates can be made using ONS 2021 Census Data on how many women born in the 1950s resided in each constituency in that year.
With reference to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' publication Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 12 March 2025, whether she will make it her policy to adopt the Committee's recommendations on the two-child limit and the benefit cap.
We value the UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ input and their perspectives on our policies. It is right that the government considers this report in full, and we will respond in line with the timescales set by the committee in their concluding observations. The Child Poverty Taskforce is continuing its urgent work and is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. Our metrics must also reflect the experience of poverty in households across the UK and the urgent need to focus on those children experiencing the most severe and acute forms of poverty. The Taskforce will consider how best to measure this as the strategy develops, including through our work on the material deprivation measure following the recent review of the material deprivation survey questions carried out by the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
With reference to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' publication Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 12 March 2025, whether she will make it her policy to adopt the Committee's recommendations on enhancing measures to tackle poverty through measurable targets.
We value the UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ input and their perspectives on our policies. It is right that the government considers this report in full, and we will respond in line with the timescales set by the committee in their concluding observations. The Child Poverty Taskforce is continuing its urgent work and is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. Our metrics must also reflect the experience of poverty in households across the UK and the urgent need to focus on those children experiencing the most severe and acute forms of poverty. The Taskforce will consider how best to measure this as the strategy develops, including through our work on the material deprivation measure following the recent review of the material deprivation survey questions carried out by the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
What the planned timetable is for the publication of the Child Poverty Strategy; and whether an (a) interim report and (b) update will be published.
The Taskforce is on track to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in spring this year as set out in our framework ‘Tackling Child Poverty: Developing Our Strategy’.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2024 to Question 17570 on Pension Funds: Environment Protection, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a legal obligation for UK-based p
As set out in our answer of 9 December to Question 17570, in line with their fiduciary duty trustees of pension schemes have a responsibility to consider and review their approach to investment, stewardship and voting in light of the climate risks to thei...
What assessment her Department has made of whether the divestment of pension funds from insurance companies that are not compliant with the UK’s climate commitments is a part of fiduciary duty.
Trustees have a fiduciary duty to make investment decisions in members’ best interests. Climate-related risk and opportunity is one of the major categories of financial factors of which trustees need to take account, in line with their fiduciary duty. The...
If she will publish the evidential basis supporting her statement that trials of employment advisers giving CV and interview advice in hospitals has produced dramatic results.
Based on over 20 years of research, the Individual Placement and Support employment model is internationally recognised as the most effective way to support people with mental health problems to gain and keep paid employment. Individual Placement and Supp...
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 3732 on Pension Credit: Applications, how the Service Modernisation Programme will make service more user friendly and accessible for citizens; an
We continuously improve and iterate the Pension Credit application service to make the service more user friendly and accessible for citizens. New features are released regularly to the service in line with user research and feedback on the service from c...
Whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the application process for Pension Credit.
We are streamlining all Pension Credit application routes by using information held internally to reduce the number of questions the citizen must answer. A key objective of DWP’s Service Modernisation Programme is to utilise end user research to understan...
Whether she plans to review the removal of the spare room subsidy.
Any decisions on the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy policy need to be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal context. Those unable to meet a shortfall in their rent can seek a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from their local authority. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
What plans her Department has to support the health of pensioners living in energy inefficient homes when Winter Fuel Payment is withdrawn.
Energy support is the responsibility of Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. We are providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.The Home Upgrade Grant provides grants to low-income households to upgrade the energy performance of the worst quality, off gas grid homes in England by installing multiple energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating. This will typically include insulation measures in combination with a heat pump to make the home heat efficient and suitable for the future as we build towards net zero. The Government is committed to a preventative approach to public health. Keeping people warm and well at home and improving the quality of new and existing homes will play an essential part in enabling people to live longer, healthier lives and reducing pressures on the NHS. The Government is ensuring pensioners are supported through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, over 12 million pensioners will benefit, with many expected to see their new State Pension increase by around £1700 over the course of this Parliament.
Whether her Department will replace cash payments for the Personal Independence Payment.
We will be reviewing the responses people have made to the previous government's consultation on Personal Independence Payment, which closed on Monday 22 July. The proposals in this Green Paper were developed by the previous government. We will be considering our own approach to social security in due course.