Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the sanctions regime for claimants of employment and support allowance; and if he will make a statement.

We know sanctions are effective in encouraging claimants to comply with requirements designed to support them and improve their chances of finding or preparing for work. DWP research[1] suggests that 61% of ESA claimants say they are more likely to follow the rules due to the threat of a sanction. In any month less than 1% of eligible ESA claimants are sanctioned, the vast majority do comply and take up the support on offer.

However, we are not complacent and continue to monitor the sanctions system. We have accepted all of Matthew Oakley’s recommendations and have already made a number of improvements. We will continue to keep the sanctions system under review and any improvements will be across all benefits.

[1] The Jobcentre Plus Offer: Final Evaluation Report https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261656/rrep852.pdf