Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of levels of (a) benefit sanctions and (b) destitution; and if she will make a statement.

The Department has not made a direct comparative assessment.

Sanctions are only used in a minority of cases, when people fail to meet their conditionality requirements without good reason.

When a sanction is applied, hardship payments are available as a safeguard if a claimant demonstrates that they cannot meet their immediate and most essential needs, including accommodation, heating, food and hygiene, as a result of their sanction.

Additionally, claimants who are sanctioned continue to receive passported benefits, such as Housing Benefits on legacy benefits, and any UC elements they are entitled to, such as the housing and children element.