Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will use Budget 2021 to end the sanctions system under universal credit, jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance.

The Chancellor will provide an update on the Budget on 3 March.

Sanctions are a core element of the conditionality approach to helping people back into work, and DWP work coaches will ensure that they are only ever used in a proportionate, reasonable way. In universal credit, jobseeker's allowance and new style employment and support allowance, sanctions are only considered where a claimant has not undertaken a work-related requirement as agreed in their Claimant Commitment without good reason. A personalised, tailored Claimant Commitment is agreed between the work coach and the claimant. They will only set reasonable requirements, based on the claimant’s circumstances and the local/national health guidelines – and no claimant can or will be sanctioned without a Claimant Commitment in place.