Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households are facing deductions to their universal credit award as a result of debts owed to the public purse as of 21 October 2021.

For Universal Credit claims with a payment due during May 2021, 2,070,000 had a deduction towards an Advance or Government debt.

1) Data for May 2021 has been provided in line with the latest available UC Household Statistics.

2) Government debt includes: DWP Benefit Overpayment (fraud and non-fraud), Tax Credit Overpayment (fraud and non-fraud), Housing Benefit Overpayment (fraud and non-fraud), Social Fund Loan,Recoverable Hardship Payment, Administrative Penalty, Civil Penalty, Eligible Loan Deductions, Integration Loan.

3) Figures are provisional and are subject to retrospective change as later data becomes available.

4) Number of claims rounded to the nearest 1,000.