Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2022 to Question 117034, if she will review her Department's condition that a claimant normally be willing to travel 90 minutes each way to work to ensure that it meets the stated aim set out in the foreword of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper that, People deserve to live in a country where life is not a postcode lottery, where by staying local you can go far.

It is not necessary to review the expected daily travelling time as DWP is well placed to support the Levelling Up agenda. We do this by helping individuals across the nation to take full advantage of job opportunities within their local areas.

Typically, a claimant who is expected to be available and looking for work will be required to look for work that is within daily travelling time of their home. There is a maximum limit set at 90 minutes travel time from their home, Work coaches have the flexibility to tailor this taking into consideration a claimant’s circumstances, for example, location of childcare, schools, available work and public transport links

Flexible Support Fund is available to help with the cost of attending interviews and can support travel costs for up to 3 months of the claimant starting work