Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has accrued to the public purse of deductions from universal credit claimants' standard allowance.

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The aim of the deductions policy in Universal Credit is to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their gas, electricity and water cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services. Deductions can be taken from a claimant’s payment of Universal Credit as set out in legislation and can also include monies owed to the public purse, such as repaying a Social Fund loan, or recovering arrears of Council Tax.