Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to accept the recommendation of the Independent Monitoring Board report of 17 October 2018 on HMP Bedford to permit prisoners with a date for release to make an application for universal credit; and if he will discuss that recommendation with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Prisoners are able to meet a DWP Work Coach in their prison in the weeks before release who can help them prepare their claim for Universal Credit. The Work Coach can make an appointment at the relevant Job Centre as early as the day of release and an advance of a full month’s benefit including the housing element, if appropriate can be made within hours.

The MoJ is working closely with DWP to improve the process for access to benefits for prison leavers.