Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter to the Benefit Director on 6 December 2016 on employment and support allowance; and what the reasons are for the delay in responding to that letter.

The Department for Work and Pensions offers its apology for the delay in responding. We have been investigating the issues raised in your letter to the Benefit Director on 6 December.

Whilst the Department aims to provide a full response to MP enquires on behalf of their constituents within 15 working days, there will be occasions where, for a variety of reasons this is not possible. In this case additional information received from the customer generated further enquiries. Regrettably, the MP's office was not kept informed of progress when it became clear in this particular case there would be a delay. A full response has now been issued to the hon. Member.