Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that her proposed policy of accessing benefit claimants' bank accounts does not disproportionately impact (a) people with disabilities and (b) other vulnerable groups.

The Eligibility Verification measure will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. The proposed new power instead helps verify benefit eligibility, using very limited information from banks and other financial institutions.

DWP has existing safeguards in place to support our most vulnerable claimants and under the Public Sector Equality Duty, the impacts of this policy will continue to be monitored to mitigate any potential unintended, negative consequences.