House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Ronnie Cowan asks how many Universal Credit applicants have died during their application assessment period and as a result received zero payment for that period of time in their life.

Employment Minister Alok Sharma says 1,200 cases have seen someone pass away during the claiming period. He adds that the vast majority received a payment.

Mr Cowan says he has constituents who have had this, adding that the DWP classifies the end of the assessment period as having died at the beginning, in these cases.

Mr Sharma says he is noting the point that has been made and "will look into the policy".

House of Lords
Parliament

Lib Dem Baroness Benjamin is asking the government what plans they have to respond to the increase in demand for endoscopy services.

Baroness Benjamin tells peers her mother died from bowel cancer.

She says early diagnosis is vital, that health units are struggling, and that there are a lack of NHS staff to carry out the procedures.

Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy says outcomes have improved.

He says that Health Education England, external will invest in 200 clinical endoscopists by 2021.

Lord O'Shaughnessy says 130 endoscopists have already been recruited.

Endoscopy services help prevent bowel cancer through early diagnosis. Over 40,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using an instrument, called an endoscope.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Ian Lucas asks what proportion of personal independence payment decisions are overturned on appeal and how long it takes for appeals to be heard.

Work and Pensions Minister Sarah Newton says that 57,000 decisions on PIP were overturned last year, and 3.3m PIP claims were made overall.

She adds that 9% have been appealed, and 4% were overturned.

Mr Lucas says that in his constituency, two-thirds of findings are being overturned on appeal. He says this is causing "real personal distress" for people who then have to wait over a year for decisions to be changed.

Ms Newton says that more information often comes forward at the appeal stage, which is why the government has worked to improve the decision-making process, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Paul Masterton asks what steps the government has taken to protect the welfare of vulnerable Universal Credit claimants.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey says the department is "working continuously" to make sure that vulnerable claimants are protected.

Mr Masterton asks what is happening to advance payments for claimants, particularly in cases where people have difficulty managing budgets or struggle with addiction.

Ms McVey says the advance is up to 100%, through the personal relationship that work coaches have with claimants, and they can assess what is needed in individual circumstances.

House of Lords
Parliament

The Lords starts its week with the introduction of two new peers, Baroness Bryan of Partick and Baroness Barran.

There are then oral questions on such varied topics as bowel cancer, rail connectivity in Wales, naval strategy and the resilience of the UK's democratic system to Russian interference.

Peers then debate a report on whether the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 is still fit for purpose.

They finish with a debate on the Lords' EU committee's report on the future UK-EU relationship.

House of Commons
Parliament

Parliament's week is a bit quieter than they have been of late, but today will provide some interest.

The Commons gets going at 2:30pm with Work and Pensions topical questions. Questions from many MPs will focus on universal credit.

There are then two urgent questions and two statements - here are the details:

There will then be an Estimates Day debate, where MPs consider the spending plans of different government departments.

They will then conduct various pieces of House business, and finish with a debate on rough sleeping in Nottingham.

Welcome to our coverage of Westminster's week - with a busy first day ahead.

We'll be covering events in the Commons chamber, as well as the Health and Social Care Committee's inquiry into NHS funding.

Remember you can find out more about the week ahead on Mark D'Arcy's blog here.