Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of conditionality through sanctions on levels of (a) poverty and (b) mental health of social security recipients.

The Department has made no assessment on ending conditionality through sanctioning.

It is right that there should be conditions and consequences to labour market support. We will continue to ensure that claimants who need support receive it and consider how to best tailor this support to their individual needs.