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Petitions

Volume 719: debated on Monday 5 September 2022

Petitions

Monday 5 September 2022

Observations

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Post box in Hayfield

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that the lack of an accessible post box in Hayfield restricts access to postal services for local residents; and further that it requires them to cross the busy A624 to access the nearest post box when the Post Office is closed, potentially endangering the elderly, disabled, and families with small children.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to note the need for an additional post box in Hayfield, recognise the benefits this would bring for local residents, walkers and holidaymakers, and urge Royal Mail to install a new post box.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Robert Largan, Official Report, 22 June 2022; Vol. 716, c. 930.]

[P002741]

Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Jane Hunt):

It is important that people and businesses can access postal services and can send and receive letters and parcels regularly. That is why the Government are committed to ensuring the provision of a sustainable, efficient, accessible and affordable universal postal service in the United Kingdom.

Royal Mail is a fully independent private business, and the Government do not have a role in the day-to-day operational matters of the company, including the location of post boxes.

However, Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the postal sector, requires Royal Mail to ensure there is a post box within half a mile of the premises of at least 98% of users of postal services. Royal Mail is also required to report annually to Ofcom the number of customer complaints received about the provision and/or location of post boxes.

Royal Mail has advised the Government that the post box is within 600 metres of the post office, which meets Ofcom’s requirements. On the question of accessibility, Royal Mail has informed the Government that customers can also pass correctly stamped letters to the postal worker when they are delivering their mail.

Consequently, after taking into account all the relevant factors, we understand that Royal Mail has taken the operational decision not to install an additional post box in the immediate area of Hayfield.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Conviction of Yasin Malik

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that the trial of Yasin Malik contravenes article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights regarding his receiving a fair trial and India’s own constitution; notes that Mr Malik was arrested and taken to Jammu Jail in 2019 shortly after the Indian Government banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, then transferred to Tihar Jail on the outskirts of Delhi on 7 May 2019, where he was kept in inhumane conditions; further that he was arrested on a contrived offence by the Indian Government under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA); further that the PSA and UAPA have been condemned by the United Nations as contravening human rights law, the Geneva Convention and the Constitution of India 1950; declares that the Indian government is failing to observe 1948 United Nations Resolution 47 which states: “The Government of India should themselves and through the Government of the State declare and make known that all subjects of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of creed, caste or party, will be safe and free in expressing their views and in voting on the question of the accession of the State and that there will be freedom of the press, speech and assembly and freedom of travel in the State, including freedom of lawful entry and exit”; further that India is still using colonial detention laws from 1860 especially the Law of Sedition under Penal codes 121 & 124, which was abolished in the UK in 1967; and further that there are concerns about the independence of the Special Additional Sessions Court in relation to the National Investigation Agency.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to raise Yasin Malik’s unfair trial with the Indian Government, call for immediate medical aid for Mr Malik and his removal from solitary confinement, and request that the Indian Government release Mr Malik on bail, pending a new trial.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Debbie Abrahams, Official Report, 20 July 2022; Vol. 718, c. 1073.]

[P002758]

Observations from the Minister of State for South and Central Asia, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth (Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon):

We have noted that Yasin Malik was convicted and sentenced in the Indian courts to two consecutive life sentences for a number of charges under Indian law. Mr Malik’s arrest and trial fell under Indian jurisdiction and we cannot intervene in the independent judicial process of another country. We understand that Mr Malik ended his hunger strike on 1 August and was provided medical attention. We expect all countries to respect and uphold their international obligations regarding the treatment of detainees and raise cases where necessary.

Health and Social Care

Corporate Travel Management

The petition of residents of the constituency of Linlithgow and East Falkirk,

Declares that the petitioners believe that the contract awarded by the UK Government to Corporate Travel Management (CTM) to coordinate the hotel quarantine programme avoided due process or competition; further that the UK Government failed in their duty to ensure that CTM had an adequate system in place to deal with customer payments and complaints around the operation of the quarantine hotel booking services; and notes that this has resulted in many travellers being unable to coordinate travel back to the UK when South Africa was moved onto the UK travel red list.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to commit to reallocate funding to recompense anyone who has lost out financially as a result of CTM’s handling of the quarantine hotel booking service when South Africa was moved onto the UK travel red list.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Martyn Day, Official Report, 24 May 2022; Vol. 715, c. 263.]

[P002734]

Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Maggie Throup):

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the largest public procurement organisation in the UK, entered into a framework agreement with a number of suppliers, including Corporate Travel Management (CTM), who had been successful in a competitive tender process for the Public Sector Travel and Venue Solutions framework. Frameworks help public and third sector buyers to procure goods and services from a list of pre-approved suppliers, with agreed terms and conditions and legal protections. The agreement sets out the award and ordering procedure for customers to purchase the services listed, by entering into a separate 'call-off contract' with a particular supplier. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) entered into such a contract with CTM using a direct award under the framework.

CTM as DHSC’s travel services delivery partner entered into an enabling agreement on 13 November 2020. They are subsequently responsible for identifying and contracting with the individual hotels that support the Managed Quarantine Service (MQS).

This contract was varied on 6 February 2021 in order to incorporate the Government’s policy of international services involved in the MQS, pursuant to Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 under which contractual arrangements may be modified without a new procurement procedure.

Prior to implementing the variation, the UK government ensured that CTM administered a booking portal to accommodate payments using debit or credit cards. CTM also provides a call centre for travellers having difficulty, or who need additional assistance in making their booking. DHSC had weekly meetings with CTM's senior leadership where operational performance issues were discussed and escalated as appropriate. Performance against the contract was managed and assessed according to the contractual arrangements. Overall performance, including in relation to complaints, was discussed regularly between DHSC officials and CTM and any areas requiring improvement were addressed.

In addition to the web portal, CTM have a large international call centre which is able to assist guests to make their booking. The call centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has multilingual capability and the capacity to increase to meet demands.

There is no specific policy offering compensation for the cost of quarantine at short notice. If British residents returning to the United Kingdom from a “red list” country (there is currently no red list due to the relevant legislation no longer being in force) believed they suffered severe financial hardship as a result of paying the full cost of managed quarantine in advance, they may qualify for hardship arrangements. This includes repayment plans, where the fees are repaid in monthly instalments and, in exceptional circumstances, fee reductions and waivers may be granted. All eligibility criteria must be met to qualify for hardship arrangements.

Timeline for Managed Quarantine Service (MQS)

15-02-2021 - MQS was formed, DHSC held responsibility

25-03-2022 - MQS responsibility transferred to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

Prior to the formation of MQS policies around travel to England from another country was owned by the Department for Transport and DHSC jointly

Housing, Communities and Local Government

Council tax discounts for dementia

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that there are over 600,000 people with dementia who receive care at home; further that people with dementia are only disregarded for council tax if they have a medical certificate and are in receipt of certain benefits; further that this means that many people with dementia have to wait months or years to qualify for council tax discounts after they have been diagnosed; and further that, if council tax disregards were backdated to the date a person was certified as being severely mentally impaired, people with dementia could receive additional council tax discounts for longer periods and potentially save thousands of pounds.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to require that council tax disregards are backdated to the date a person was certified as being severely mentally impaired, where they then go on to qualify for a relevant benefit.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Official Report, 15 June 2022; Vol. 716, c. P5.]

[P002739]

Observations from the Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Paul Scully):

Council tax is an important source of funding that helps councils to deliver crucial services to the local community. The council tax system incorporates a wide range of discounts and exemptions to recognise particular circumstances where it might be considered that a full council tax bill might not be appropriate. In considering whether a council tax discount or exemption might apply, billing authorities are required to satisfy themselves that any relevant criteria for a reduction are met. This is to ensure that, in providing support through the council tax system via discounts and exemptions, that support is targeted at those who most need it.

The Government are committed to providing assistance to those with a severe mental impairment. The council tax system ensures that eligible people with a severe mental impairment are “disregarded” for the purposes of calculating their council tax bill. This means that, where they live on their own, they will not have to pay any council tax at all and, where they live with someone else, the other person will be entitled to a single person discount.

For a person to be eligible for the SMI discount, they must meet two criteria, set out in legislation. First, a medical practitioner must confirm that the individual has a severe mental impairment. Secondly, the person must also be entitled to receive one of a number of qualifying benefits specified in regulations. Entitlement to benefit is determined if and when a valid claim for that benefit has been made and agreed.

The council tax exemption is not an automatic entitlement for those with a severe mental impairment. It reflects also their particular circumstances and recognises that, where they are entitled to one of a range of defined benefits, they should benefit from a reduction in their council tax bill. Legislation requires that entitlement to the exemption is dependent on meeting both tests concurrently. This helps to ensure that support goes to where it is most needed.

The petition seeks to backdate eligibility for the council tax exemption to the date a medical practitioner makes a diagnosis of a severe mental impairment, once entitlement to relevant benefits is provided. This backdating would be irrespective of the date that entitlement to the benefit begins. The council tax system, and the provision of discounts and exemptions, is designed to ensure that support is made available to those most in need. The effect of the proposal contained in the petition would be that, where someone is assessed to be eligible for a relevant benefit on a particular date, and a medical practitioner had confirmed that they had a severe mental impairment from an earlier date, the entitlement to the council tax exemption would be backdated to the date of the medical assessment. The Government do not consider that it is appropriate for such exemptions to be provided where there is no confirmation that the person is also entitled to a relevant benefit at the same time. The rationale for the exemption is that a person is entitled to the exemption where they are both in receipt of a specified benefit and they have been diagnosed with a severe mental impairment. The proposal set out in the petition would break that principle.

However, councils have considerable flexibility, under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, to provide discretionary council tax discounts or exemptions to anyone in their area where they consider that appropriate. This could include offering support to those individuals with a severe mental impairment, including where they may not have demonstrated entitlement to a qualifying benefit.

Pryzm in Watford

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that Pryzm in Watford should not be closed down; further that Pryzm is the only town-based nightclub in Hertfordshire; further that Pryzm is a long-standing part of the culture of Watford; and further that if the planning application to build houses on the site and Pryzm itself is approved, it will have a detrimental effect on the local economy and especially the night-time economy.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to urge the local council to engage with developers and urge them to withdraw their planning application or refuse the application to build on the site of Pryzm in Watford, and should the application be refused, to urge the landlord not to evict Pryzm nightclub as tenants.

And the petitioners remain, etc—[Presented by Dean Russell, Official Report, 28 June 2022; Vol. 717, c. 268 .]

[P002742]

Observations from the Minister for Housing:

Watford Borough Council is responsible for the local planning of its area. The Government policy is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of a local planning authority or comment on specific proposals or schemes due to the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State unless it is necessary to do so. In determining a planning application the local planning authority is required to have regard to all material considerations including the development plan, national policies and views expressed by third parties. It is, of course, for local planning authorities to provide whatever justification that may be appropriate to give for their decisions and procedures.

When planning applications are considered, our national planning policy framework is clear that local plans and decisions should support the role that town centres play at the heart of local communities, by taking a positive approach to their growth, management and adaptation. It is the role of local plans to promote the long-term vitality and viability of town centres by allowing them to grow and diversify in a way that can respond to rapid changes in the retail and leisure industries, which allows a suitable mix of uses and which reflects their distinctive characters. Our planning practice guidance to local authorities recognises that evening and night-time activities have the potential to increase economic activity within town centres; helping to diversify and develop their unique brand beyond retail.

Transport

Bus services in Footdee (Fittie)

The Petition of residents of the constituency of Aberdeen North,

Declares that First Bus have abandoned the people of Footdee (Fittie) with changes to bus services 13 and 15; isolated them from the rest of the city; cut off the only bus service to Aberdeen Beach, negatively impacting the population of Aberdeen as a whole.

The Petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to call upon First Bus to reinstate the bus service to Footdee (Fittie), Aberdeen.

And the Petitioners remain etc. —[Presented by Kirsty Blackman, Official Report 20 July 2022; Vol.718, c.7P.]

[P002762]

Observations from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Baroness Vere of Norbiton.

The Department for Transport has responsibilities for Bus and Active travel in England. As this is a devolved policy area, we would encourage the community to engage with the Scottish Government and Local Councils on this proposal.

Doncaster-Sheffield airport

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that Doncaster-Sheffield Airport is incredibly important to the economy and wellbeing of the City of Doncaster, and should not be closed down; further that the owners, Peel Holdings, have indicated their intention to close the airport on the basis that they say it is not commercially viable; notes that the airport provides employment for some 800 people and brings in valuable trade and business to Doncaster; and further that it would be a real setback to the levelling up of our City for the airport to be closed.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take all necessary steps to keep Doncaster-Sheffield airport open and safeguard the employment of all those who work in or around the airport.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Nick Fletcher, Official Report, 18 July 2022; Vol. 718, c. 814.]

[P002757]

Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Robert Courts):

I recognise that Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s review into the future of the airport will be concerning for passengers and those who work at the airport. The Government are in close contact with the airport to understand its plans.

I met with the Peel Group and the airport on 21 July, and strongly expressed the Government’s clear view that, whatever the outcome of the review, it leads to a viable, thriving aviation future for the airport. I urged Peel Group to get around the table with interested parties to find a way to preserve the future of the airfield, and to allow sufficient time for solutions to emerge.

I am pleased that Peel Group and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority are now working closely together to consider options through their working group. I have jointly signed a letter to Peel Group with Mayor Coppard, Ros Jones the Mayor of Doncaster and local MPs calling for the extension of the review period, which has now been extended until 16 September, and for them to outline the options they are willing to explore for the future of the airport.

As set out in our 10-year strategic framework for aviation, Flightpath to the Future, the UK Government are committed to working with the aviation sector and local stakeholders. We also recognise the importance of our existing comprehensive aviation infrastructure across the UK. Regional airports are key in serving our local communities, supporting thousands of jobs in the regions and act as a key gateway to international opportunities. That is why during the pandemic we supported them through our £161 million Airports and Ground Operators Support Scheme. We will continue to bring forward our plans to level up and ensure the whole of the UK has the connections people need.

The UK aviation market operates predominately in the private sector. Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines are well placed to deliver services to their customers by responding to demand for different routes.

This will be a commercial decision for the owners of the airport in discussion with local stakeholders, although we hope they conclude that there is a viable aviation future for the airport.

Peel Group has confirmed that it wants to make best use of the site and that it is still open to the continuation of aviation activities on the site.

Work and Pensions

DWP dedicated telephone line for advice services

The petition of residents of the constituency of Glasgow East,

Declares that punitive social security cuts as well as the rising use of conditionality means that more and more people are turning to advice services, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, to advocate on their behalf with the Department of Work and Pensions; and further that many advice service staff and volunteers are spending far too much time waiting to speak with DWP staff on general telephone lines.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to set up a Department of Work and Pensions dedicated telephone line for advice services.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by David Linden, Official Report, 19 July 2022; Vol. 718, c. 931 .]

[P002745]

Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (David Rutley):

There are several channels that citizens can use to contact the Department dependent on the benefit, including:

making an online claim

via telephone using a freephone number

visiting a Jobcentre

using a Universal Credit online account

The DWP supports citizens from working age to pension age, those with disabilities and health conditions, alongside those seeking child maintenance support for children and is committed to providing a quality telephony service across this vast range of services.

The Department answers around 3 million calls per month, and all colleagues, across the various phone lines, are trained in specific products and services. The vast majority of customer queries can be completely resolved through the telephone services; however some complex cases require a handover to caseworkers.

As the largest service in the DWP, Universal Credit has a dedicated line to support Citizens Advice colleagues specifically dealing with queries within the Help to Claim service.

The DWP closely monitors the percentage of calls answered and the average speed they are answered on a regular basis to assure services are delivering and that the right levels of resource are deployed.

In addition, the Department regularly engages with key national organisations representing claimants across all benefit areas through our established and trusted Operational Stakeholder Engagement Forum (OSEF). Operational updates are shared at the monthly forum meetings and stakeholders are given the opportunity to raise questions and voice areas of concern. This provides useful insight to help the Department improve products and services.

For these reasons, the DWP has no plans to create a dedicate telephone line for advice services.

Furthermore, the DWP has plans to introduce new technology to improve the callers experience. This will feature enhanced call routeing and self-service capabilities, reducing call volumes to colleagues and increasing efficiency and effectiveness. The Department also plans to build a number of new channels through which citizens can access services and obtain the information they need at a time that suits them.

In response to the pandemic, the Department temporarily suspended the requirement for face-to-face appointments for all claimants. This was a necessary intervention to protect DWP staff and customers. As public health restrictions have relaxed, conditionality has been reintroduced, but sanctions remain at low levels.

The claimant commitment sits at the centre of the Department’s approach to conditionality. It is jointly agreed between the claimant and the Department and sets out the reasonable requirements expected of claimants to help them get into work. No claimant is given a sanction unless they fail to fulfil their obligations in the jointly agreed claimant commitment.

Eligibility period for the Cost of Living Payment

The petition of residents of the constituency of Glasgow North East,

Declares that there is currently a low uptake of Pension Credit which has knock-on effects on receiving the Cost of Living Payment; notes that to get the first cost of living payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment, or later found to be entitled to a payment of a passport benefit, one of which is Pension Credit for any day in the period April 26 to May 25 2022; and further that if the eligibility period were to be extended, it could encourage people to apply for Pension Credit and receive the Cost of Living Payment.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to extend the eligibility period for recipients of Pension Credit to receive the Cost of Living Payment to the end of the fiscal year.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Anne McLaughlin, Official Report, 5 July 2022; Vol. 717, c. 845.]

[P002743]

Observations from The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse Coffey):

In respect of pension credit, the latest estimates show that take-up is at its highest level since 2010, with 66% of eligible pensioners claiming pension credit in the financial year ending 2020. Take-up of guarantee credit, the income top-up element of pension credit, was higher, 73% of those eligible claimed it; and take-up of savings credit, which is only available to those who reached state pension age before April 2016 was 43%.

We have already undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of pension credit and increase take-up, focusing our efforts on a comprehensive take-up campaign, launched on 3 April. We have been promoting pension credit in a variety of ways, including print advertising and promotion in the national press, across social media, via internet search engines and on screens in post offices and GP surgeries across Great Britain.

All MPs have also been urged to support the campaign at a constituency level as MPs are well placed to promote pension credit locally. DWP’s digital toolkit has been updated with information and resources, as well as leaflets and posters which advice organisations, charities and other stakeholders working across local communities can use to help promote pension credit. Most recently, on 15 June DWP held another pension credit day of action with broadcasters, regional and national newspapers and other partners encouraged to reach out to pensioners, as well their family and friends, through their channels.

The campaign has been highly effective, with over 10,000 claims received across Great Britain during the week of the pension credit day of action alone. This is an increase of 275% compared to the same week in 2021. But our drive to increase take-up continues, with the next phase of social media and paid website advertising and further advertising in national newspapers, radio and on buses and digital street displays starting soon.

The Government understands the pressures people, including pensioners, are facing with the cost of living. That is why we are providing a further £15 billion in targeted support, bringing the total Government cost of living support to over £37 billion. This comprehensive package includes a £650 cost of living payment paid in two lump sums to everyone on an eligible means-tested benefit, including pension credit, with respect to the qualifying dates. Rebates of £400 will be given to those who pay electricity bills, and £150 made to those in council tax bands A to D in England. An additional £300 targeted support will be made to pensioners to help tackle the rise in fuel costs, as well as £150 to disabled people in receipt of an eligible disability benefit on the qualifying day. The targeted support has been directed at groups who have been identified as particularly likely to need extra support to deal with the impacts of higher inflation and to the lowest-income individuals in the UK to support with higher inflation.

The eligibility period for the cost of living payment was designed to target support to those on eligible means-tested benefits. Setting the eligibility period as we have was the quickest way to deliver support to those on the lowest incomes and will allow us to make timely payments to over 8 million people on low incomes.

For pension credit claimants to receive the first cost of living payment, they would need to have been entitled to a pension credit payment for any day in the period of 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. Claims for pension credit can be backdated for a maximum of three months, provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout the backdating period.

This means that if someone makes a claim, and payment of their pension credit can be backdated to fall within the first cost of living payment eligibility period, then they will qualify for the first cost of living payment of £326. To guarantee that 25 May will be included in the first pension credit payment for pensioners wishing to backdate a new claim, we advise that claims should be made as soon as possible and no later than 18 August and so long as they remain entitled to pension credit, they will qualify for the second payment of £324 as well. We would urge anybody who thinks that they could be eligible to make a claim as soon as possible. We will provide further guidance about this second payment and the eligibility period in due course.

We are not changing the eligibility dates for the first tranche of the cost of living payment for any of the means-tested benefits.

Universal Credit deductions

The petition of residents of the constituency of Glasgow East,

Notes that analysis by CPAG shows that in the constituency of Glasgow East there are approximately 5,000 households claiming Universal Credit who are receiving on average £58 less each month than they are entitled to because of automatic deductions; declares that these deductions affect an estimated 4,400 children; further that immediate changes to universal credit deductions must be made in order to allow families to access more of their universal credit award, which will in turn ease the pressures of the cost of living crisis on struggling families; further that having to repay a universal credit advance which sustains claimants through the five week wait for the first universal credit payment, is the most common reason for a deduction; further that every month, families across the east end of Glasgow lose a total of £153,000 from their UC payments to service advance debts to the DWP; further that a further £31,238 is paid by UC claimants to HMRC for historic tax credit overpayments; further that the British Government should reduce the maximum deduction rate for government debts to 5 per cent of the UC standard allowance, in line with other creditors; further that the British Government should also reduce the cumulative level of deductions taken from peoples’ benefits from the current 25 per cent down to 15 per cent, and further that this cost-neutral intervention would provide up to £53 more a month for a couple and up to £33 more a month for a single person or lone parent.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reduce Universal Credit deductions and allow families to access more of their Universal Credit award.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by David Linden, Official Report, 21 June 2022; Vol. 716, c. 817.]

[P002738]

Observations from The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse Coffey):

The Government recognise the importance of supporting claimants to manage their liabilities. Under universal credit, there is a co-ordinated approach to deductions from benefit, which supports claimants to manage their financial obligations.

The primary aim of deductions in universal credit is to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services. The policy also enables social obligations to be enforced when other repayment methods fail, or are not cost-effective, and ensures benefit debt is recovered for the taxpayer in a cost-effective manner.

Regulations provide an overall level of protection that ensures claimants do not see excessive deductions. The overall cap on deductions is set at 25% of standard allowance, this is only ever exceeded to address priority rent and fuel debts. The threshold of 25% provides a balance to ensure priority debts and liabilities are addressed whilst allowing claimants to retain most of their award to meet day-to-day needs.

The Government have reduced the cap twice in recent years. The standard cap was reduced from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance in October 2019, and down again to 25% in April 2021. These two reductions have helped hundreds of thousands of UC claimants to retain more of their award.

Within the standard cap on deductions, there is even more discretion available to support claimants. If claimants find themselves still struggling with the repayment of benefit overpayments, claimants can ask DWP to agree a lower rate of repayment which is affordable for them. Many tens of thousands of claimants have been helped in this way if they contact DWP for support.

Tailored, individual support is the right way to support claimants. Reducing the standard cap in its entirety below 25% of the standard allowance would not be possible without potentially significant negative outcomes.

Firstly, it would reduce the range of debts a claimant could address. It is possible that deductions for vital obligations such as child maintenance or council tax arrears would not be made at all. In November 2021, we supported 29,000 families through making child maintenance payments in this way, many of these would no longer be possible.

Secondly, reducing the standard cap could limit the support claimants can access as an advance. Advances are a claimant’s benefit award paid early in order to support them in times of financial need. A claimant can only request one budgeting advance at a time, meaning that a budgeting advance must be recovered in full before a claimant can request further support for unexpected, emergency costs. Reducing the standard cap, inevitably increasing the recovery period of such advances, would leave some claimants unable to access financial support for unexpected, emergency costs they may face.

Furthermore, there is already a significant amount of support available for claimants who are repaying overpayments. As noted, anyone repaying benefit overpayments who is experiencing financial hardship is actively encouraged to contact the Department’s debt management team. DWP agents will always look to negotiate an affordable and sustainable repayment plan with anyone who contacts us. In many cases, the rate of repayment which can be agreed can even be below 5% of the standard allowance.

There are no plans to reduce the rate for recovering benefit overpayments to 5% of the standard allowance. The Government believe it is important to support claimants out of debt so as to ensure that debt does not act as a disincentive to moving into work. It is right we ensure benefit debt is recovered in a cost-effective manner as it is also our duty to protect public funds. However, we are continually reviewing the deduction policy and will include assessment of this recommendation in our review.

The Government understands the continued pressures that people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges to which no country is immune. In considering how best to support claimants, the Government have opted to prioritise non-repayable financial support, deliverable and targeted, to support and help families. This support is worth over £37 billion in 2022-23.

The Government are helping all domestic electricity customers in Great Britain to cope with the impact of higher energy bills, with £400 off their bills from October through the expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). This is a doubling of the £200 of support announced in February, and there will no longer be any repayments.

The Government have also considered the specific issues those on means-tested benefits may be experiencing. This includes supporting over 8 million households across the UK in receipt of eligible means-tested benefits with a one-off cost of living payment of £650, paid in two instalments. The Government are going further, giving additional UK-wide support to help disabled people with the extra costs they will face, with 6 million people who receive eligible non-means tested disability benefits receiving a one-off disability cost of living payment of £150.

In total, millions of low-income households will receive at least £1,200 of one-off support in total this year to help with the cost of living. This is in addition to reductions in the taper rate, helping those families who are in work and claiming universal credit to boost their income and ensuring work pays. The extensive measures noted underlines this Government’s commitment to supporting families across the UK, including those in receipt of universal credit.