Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Disabled People of 27 October 2015, Official Report, column 101WH, what assessment he has made of the reason for the high proportion of young people receiving benefit sanctions.

The department has not made a specific assessment of this. All claimants are required to meet the same conditionality rules regardless of age.

Jobseekers are only asked to meet reasonable requirements taking into account their circumstances and capability. These requirements are clearly explained and agreed by jobseekers with their Work Coach and set out in their individually tailored Claimant Commitment.