Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total amount of benefit withheld as a result of benefit sanctions was in each of the last 10 years.
The Department does not estimate the amount of benefit withheld as a result of benefit sanctions. There are no benchmarks or targets for sanctions referrals. The sanctions regime is designed to ensure claimants comply with their requirements in order to move off benefits and into work.