Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to implement a universal credit sanctions scheme to replace the current jobseeker's allowance and other sanctions scheme.

In 2012 revised sanctions regimes introduced into Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance moved us towards the Universal Credit system, with the same value of sanction across all benefits and the same duration of sanctions at medium and high levels.

We continue to monitor sanctions closely and consider opportunities for continuous improvement.