Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there are circumstances in which it is appropriate for a manager in Jobcentre Plus to press an adviser to increase the number of benefit sanctions he or she is issuing to clients.

There are no circumstances in which a manager would press an adviser to increase the number of benefit sanctions imposed on claimants.

Sanctions are only imposed where, without good reason, people have not met the terms of their Claimant Commitment and/or not taken reasonable action to give themselves the best possible prospects of getting a job. Each case is considered on its own merits and there is a robust system of safeguards in place that seek to ensure sanctions are only applied to those who fail to meet agreed requirements.