Penny Mordaunt corrected a written answer on Disability Living Allowance: Children

16 November 2016 · Commons written answer · Department for Work and Pensions

Daniel Zeichner (Labour, Cambridge) asked written question 52007 on 7 November 2016. Caroline Nokes answered on 15 November 2016 for the Department for Work and Pensions, and Penny Mordaunt corrected the answer on 16 November 2016. The corrected text no longer gives the figure £870 million. Altogether 165 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of foreign children adopted by UK parents who are not eligible for disability living allowance because of the past presence rule.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
I am replying to this question as assessments of the effect of the benefit cap are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Evaluation evidence in relation to the existing cap showed very little, if any, impact on homelessness as a direct result of the cap. The small numbers of capped households who have been evicted were noted by Local Authorities as having other reasons for rent arrears and also failing to engage with relevant services; they were considered intentionally homeless. Where claimants need further financial support with their housing costs in order to adjust to the benefit cap, for example while they find work or move to more suitable accommodation, Local Authorities can provide additional support through the use of Discretionary Housing Payments. To help Local Authorities protect the most vulnerable and to support households adjusting to the reforms, the Government will provide £870 million funding for the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme over the next 5 years.	The information is not held.

Original

Corrected

I am replying to this question as assessments of the effect of the benefit cap are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Evaluation evidence in relation to the existing cap showed very little, if any, impact on homelessness as a direct result of the cap. The small numbers of capped households who have been evicted were noted by Local Authorities as having other reasons for rent arrears and also failing to engage with relevant services; they were considered intentionally homeless.
Where claimants need further financial support with their housing costs in order to adjust to the benefit cap, for example while they find work or move to more suitable accommodation, Local Authorities can provide additional support through the use of Discretionary Housing Payments.
To help Local Authorities protect the most vulnerable and to support households adjusting to the reforms, the Government will provide £870 million funding for the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme over the next 5 years.

The information is not held.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

More on Penny Mordaunt and Caroline Nokes.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/631257?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`b87959a1b86900b323a05ab8c264bab4d9b48b4080b205123041e070eb0e22f0`