Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of universal credit claims started but not completed.

Our latest analysis, from management information for Universal Credit Full Service claims made (declared) in November 2017, shows that 29% were closed and not paid, of which the majority were accounted for under the following categories:

• failure to attend an initial interview (10%)
• Claimant Commitment not accepted (6%)
• the claim was withdrawn (4%)
• failure to attend a subsequent interview (4%)