Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Whately this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 201–220 of 462 · this parliament
How many Personal Independence Payment claimants received vehicles through the Motability Scheme in each month since July 2024.
DWP holds no data on the number of PIP claimants that have an active Motability Scheme contract at a given time. Vehicle receipt is handled by Motability Operations Ltd.
If she will release the methodology and assumptions behind HMRC’s estimate that Motability’s VAT reliefs cost £1.21 billion in 2023-24.
HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs in its annual Non-structural tax relief statistics publication. The last publication on 5 December 2024 showed an estimate and forecast for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 of £1,210m for the relief “Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people (vehicles only)”. This includes the cost of VAT reliefs for supplies of vehicles to disabled people, including but not limited to Motability.
Whether there have been any changes to the methodology HMRC use to estimate the cost of Motability’s VAT reliefs since 2019-20.
HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs in its annual Non-structural tax relief statistics publication. The last publication on 5 December 2024 showed an estimate and forecast for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 of £1,210m for the relief “Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people (vehicles only)”. This includes the cost of VAT reliefs for supplies of vehicles to disabled people, including but not limited to Motability.
How many PIP claims were (a) withdrawn before submitting a PIP2 form, (b) disallowed due to failure to return the PIP2 form, (c) withdrawn after submitting a PIP2 form but before assessment, (d) disallowed due to failure to attend an assessment and (e) (i) closed and (ii) withdrawn for other reasons prior to a decision in each of the last five financial years by intended mode of assessment.
Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) outcomes for the last five financial years is shown in table 1 below. Table 1: Volume of PIP claims by assessment outcomes for the last five financial years.Outcome TypeFinancial Years2020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25Disallowed pre-referral to AP (Assessment Provider)5,5007,1009,7009,20011,700Disallowed pre referral to AP due to non-return of PIP266,50085,50069,70073,80096,000Disallowed pre-referral to AP due to failure to attend4,0006,40019,10019,60018,900Withdrawn at any stage9,10011,20015,70018,10022,300 Notes:Figures are for England and Wales only.Figures only include claims made under normal rules.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.AP is the assessment provider.These are the categories available in the PIP administrative data. The Department does not hold data on intended modes of assessments.
How many work coaches there are per (a) capita and (b) Universal Credit claimant in (i) England and (ii) each region.
The requested work coach data for England has been provided at district level. Pure English regional data is unavailable as some English regions are combined with Scotland and Wales for Universal Credit administration purposes. Information on numbers of Universal Credit claimants by region can be obtained from DWP’s Stat Xplore tool Stat XPlore Population estimates are published by the Office for National Statistics and can be found at Population estimates - Office for National Statistics ENGLAND DISTRICTSFTEAVON, SOMERSET & GLOUCESTERSHIRE400BERKSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE & OXFORDSHIRE390BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL710BLACK COUNTRY & COVENTRY620CHESHIRE & LANCASHIRE580CUMBRIA & TEES300DEVON & CORNWALL340DORSET WILTSHIRE HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF WIGHT660EAST LONDON860EAST MIDLANDS550ESSEX400GREATER MANCHESTER960HERTFORDSHIRE210KENT420LEICESTERSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE & RUTLAND440MERSEYSIDE450NORFOLK & SUFFOLK320NORTH & MID WALES AND THE MARCHES130NORTH EAST YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE520NORTH LONDON640NORTHUMBERLAND, DURHAM, TYNE & WEAR500SOUTH LONDON900SOUTH MIDLANDS450SOUTH YORKSHIRE380SURREY & SUSSEX500THE SHIRES500WEST LONDON850WEST YORKSHIRE760ENGLAND TOTAL14,730 Notes:Work Coach Full Time Equivalent (FTE) data supplied is from September 2025.The number of Work Coaches has been derived from DWP's Activity Based Model (ABM). This model gives an estimated FTE based on a point in time estimate by Line Managers, as recorded on our internal systems each month.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 FTE.The number of Work Coaches refers to staff involved in conducting regular engagement with claimants, hence the data does not include Work Coach Team Leaders or Disability Employment Advisers.Work coaches include both UC Full-Service Work Coaches and Existing Benefits Work Coaches.The number of staff employed is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, whether placements available through the Youth Jobs Guarantee will be in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sectors.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of placements that will be available under the Youth Jobs Guarantee.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who will be supported under the Youth Jobs Guarantee.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost of a Youth Jobs Guarantee placement.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, which employers have agreed to offer placements as part of the Youth Jobs Guarantee.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, whether the cost of the placements through the Youth Jobs Guarantee will be funded by the public purse.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
With reference to her speech to the Labour Party Conference of 29 September 2025, with which employers her Department held discussions on the Youth Jobs Guarantee.
In September, the Chancellor announced that the government will offer a guaranteed job to all young people on Universal Credit, who are unemployed for over 18 months. This will guarantee an opportunity for young people to gain essential skills and experience and prevent the damaging effects of long-term unemployment. This will help aid the government's long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. As the Chancellor has already set out, further details on the design of work placements and delivery of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out at the Budget. The jobs guarantee will be funded from within existing budgets and will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP are engaging with employers and employer representative bodies on the details of the jobs guarantee. Participating employers will be agreed in due course.
How many and what proportion of investigations into benefit fraud result in (a) financial penalties and (b) court convictions.
DWP takes all allegations of fraud seriously, irrespective of reporting method, and will take appropriate action on those cases where there is concern about entitlement. For regional fraud investigations, conviction data is not currently available for 24/25. There were however 639 prosecutions* (6% of investigations) and 272 Administrative Penalties (3% of investigations) issued. For serious and economic crime investigations concluded in fiscal year 24/25, there were 26 such convictions** (7% of investigations) and 1 Administrative Penalty (0% of investigations). Across all fraud investigations concluded in 24/25, 2191 cases had their benefit corrected and 8075 cases resulted in no change. * Prosecutions refer to cases where the prosecuting authority (Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) have reviewed the case and have deemed the case suitable for prosecution. ** Please note that due to the length of time to bring a prosecution to conclusion, these conviction numbers will relate to cases commenced in previous years.
What the average waiting time was for the processing of State Pension underpayment corrections in the most recent period for which data is available.
We do not hold information regarding average waiting times to process State Pension underpayments corrections and to produce it would incur disproportionate costs.
How many and what proportion of investigations into benefit fraud result find no wrongdoing.
DWP takes all allegations of fraud seriously, irrespective of reporting method, and will take appropriate action on those cases where there is concern about entitlement. For regional fraud investigations, conviction data is not currently available for 24/25. There were however 639 prosecutions* (6% of investigations) and 272 Administrative Penalties (3% of investigations) issued. For serious and economic crime investigations concluded in fiscal year 24/25, there were 26 such convictions** (7% of investigations) and 1 Administrative Penalty (0% of investigations). Across all fraud investigations concluded in 24/25, 2191 cases had their benefit corrected and 8075 cases resulted in no change. * Prosecutions refer to cases where the prosecuting authority (Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) have reviewed the case and have deemed the case suitable for prosecution. ** Please note that due to the length of time to bring a prosecution to conclusion, these conviction numbers will relate to cases commenced in previous years.
What the average waiting time was for the processing of Universal Credit advances in the most recent period for which data is available.
We do not collect data on advance payment processing times.
What the average waiting time was for the processing of Access to Work applications in the most recent period for which data is available.
From April 2025 to August 2025 the average waiting time for the processing of Access to Work applications was 94.9 days and it was 93.6 day for the most recent month of August 2025. While we aim to make payments within 20 working days of receipt of all correctly completed claim forms and all required supporting evidence, unfortunately this is not always possible. To protect employment opportunities, case managers prioritise Access to Work applications where the customer is due to start a job within four weeks, or cases that are up for renewal. To support our customers several measures have already been put in place, including streamlining our delivery processes and recruiting additional staff.
How many Universal Credit claimants have not attended in-person appointments at Jobcentres in the last (a) three, (b) six and (c) twelve months.
The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to develop the appropriate code and analyse the raw data.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Credit online journal as a substitute for face-to-face engagement with claimants.
The UC service is designed as a digital-first platform, with the online journal serving as a central communication tool between claimants and DWP. It enables claimants to successfully and securely:Receive appointment reminders and mandatory updates.Communicate with Work Coaches and case managers.Manage their responsibilities and maintain entitlement.The Journal is a digital channel which helps two-way communications between claimants and DWP, however it was never intended to and does not replace face-to-face appointments. Claimants have a range of channels available to them, and can mostly use their preference, unless the activity mandates a particular option.
How many Universal Credit claimants have not attended a Jobcentre in person since the start of their claim in each of the last five years.
The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to develop the appropriate code and analyse the raw data.