Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 147 · Department for Work and Pensions
What the total cost of Universal Credit benefits accessed by refugees was in 2024.
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. The Department is exploring the feasibility of developing suitable official statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK / Irish Universal Credit customers.
If she will publish the total cost to the public purse for the provision of diversity, equality and inclusion courses for staff in her Department in 2024.
In the Department for Work and Pensions diversity with regard to employees is defined as valuing difference, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all. This includes promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality of opportunity, respecting differences and external experiences, and welcoming the views and challenges of others. DWP is committed to being an inclusive employer and is committed to creating an environment where everyone belongs and can be at their best, and our workforce is representative of the customers and communities that we serve. To support with these ambitions, we have invested a total of £69,198 in supporting our employees with specific equality and diversity related training needs and external memberships within the 2023-2024 financial year.
How much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for people contacting her Department in 2024.
A) The spend on translation for people contacting the Department in 2024 was £882,118. B) The spend on interpretation for people contacting the department in 2024 was £6,345,275. This includes access costs such as BSL etc.
How much was spent on translation in Jobcentres in 2024.
The total spent on translation in Jobcentres in 2024 was £882,118. This figure includes International Pension Service.
What the average (a) waiting time for people calling and (b) time people spent on hold for her Department was in 2024.
The table below shows the Average Speed of Answer and Total Hold Time, in an hours, minutes and seconds (hh:mm:ss) format, for all people calling DWP during the calendar year, 2024. Calendar YearAverage Time to Answer (hh:mm:ss)Average Hold Time (hh:mm:ss)202400:07:3300:00:24 DISCLAIMER Please note this information is derived from the Department’s management information, designed solely for the purpose of helping the Department to manage its business. As such, it has not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance checks applied to our published official statistics. As DWP holds the information internally, we have released it. However, it is possible information held by DWP may change due to operational reasons and we recommend that caution be applied when using it.
What estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26.
The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.
What percentage of people with a High Potential Individual visa are in employment.
The information requested is not held by this Department.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of low skilled migrants' entitlement to benefits on the public purse.
The Department has no current plans to make such an assessment.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of low skilled immigration worker visa grants on job opportunities for low skilled domestic workers.
This would be a matter for UK Visas & Immigration and the Home Office.
How many refugees were in receipt of Personal Independence Payment in each of the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was.
The Department does not hold the requested information on refugees in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Decision-makers check that an individual has leave to remain in the UK with recourse to public funds and meets all other eligibility requirements. Once this is established, the claim is processed like any other claim. Refugee claims are not flagged or marked on PIP administrative systems separately that would allow us to provide the information requested.
What proportion of people convicted for their involvement in Pakistani heritage grooming gangs were in receipt of (a) Universal Credit and (b) another benefit when they committed their crimes.
The requested information is not held.
How many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.
All Civil Service departments work within the Recruitment Principles, as regulated by the Civil Service Commission, to recruit using a fair and open process and appoint on merit. ● Departments will only limit a campaign to a specific group as a form of po...
How many contacts to the Pension Service there were in each month of the last five years.
The attached table shows volumes of telephone calls received within Pension Service over the last 5 years and includes the following services:State PensionPension CreditInternational GroupAttendance AllowanceCarers AllowanceWinter Fuel PaymentBereavementF...
How many staff employed by her Department are responsible for staff welfare; and whether her Department has any contracts with external organisations for staff welfare services.
The DWP Wellbeing Team includes a resource of 8 employees who are responsible for ensuring we proactively support the health and wellbeing of colleagues across DWP, creating a safe and healthy culture for colleagues at work. DWP has a contract for Occupat...
If she will publish a list of companies contracted by her Department to undertake training for staff.
The Department’s main route for Learning is via the Cabinet Office led Learning Frameworks contracts whose main suppliers are KPMG and Ernst and Young. Any other learning is by exception and this information is not readily available and to provide it woul...
If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of pension payments made to deceased recipients in each of the last ten years.
Due to data archiving in accordance with GDPR, we can only provide data from the last five financial years. Direct Payments made into an account after the death of a customer represent only around 0.1% of total annual expenditure on pensions. Although t...
What proportion of refugees are (a) employed, (b) unemployed, (c) in receipt of Universal Credit and (d) in receipt of other social security benefits.
The Department does not hold the information to produce the requested calculation. Data on the total number of individuals with refugee status is held by the Home Office. For a) and b), it is not possible to produce this information using the Office for N...
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16633 on Department for Work and Pensions: Freedom of Information, if he will publish a breakdown of refugees in receipt of Universal Credit in 2023
The Department is exploring the feasibility of developing suitable official statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK / Irish Universal Credit customers including refugees.
To provide a breakdown of all religious festivals celebrated by the Department in 2023.
The Faith & Belief Network (FBN) supports DWP colleagues and managers and the department by providing insight into issues relating to Faith, Belief and Non-Belief. In 2023, DWP celebrated or signposted to the following faith festivals and events, via ...
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's policy not to initiate fraud investigations under £5,000 on public finances.
The department is committed to using public money in an effective and efficient manner to pursue criminality where it is suspected. The value of the expected overpayment is one factor in considering whether to undertake a criminal investigation, but any c...