Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the ability of victims of domestic violence to claim the benefits.

Universal Credit continues to support victims of domestic violence to claim benefits through a range of measures.

These include special provisions for temporary accommodation, easements and same day advances. One-to-one Work Coaches will also signpost domestic violence victims to expert third-party support, and we can provide split payments where individuals in these cases request and where it would be helpful to do so.