Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who have had their universal credit payment sanctioned received hardship payments in Preston constituency in each month from 1 January to 31 October 2016.

This information is not currently available. We are considering our strategy for future publications of hardship statistics alongside our routine prioritisation of our statistical work programme.

We have information available about our strategy for the release of Universal Credit statistics here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-statistics-background-information/universal-credit-statistics-background-information

The sanctions publication strategy which details the approach being taken by DWP statisticians to improve the sanctions statistics being developed, which include the addition of Universal Credit sanction statistics, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-sanction-statistics-publication-strategy