Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many blank (a) employment support allowance claim forms and (b) income support claim forms have been issued in the last year from Jobcentres in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales.

It should not be necessary for a claimant to visit a Jobcentre to obtain any claim form for Income Support or Employment and Support Allowance.

The preferred method for making a claim for either benefit is by telephone, where the claimant can also request an alternative format. However, there may be individual instances where printing claim forms in the Jobcentre will be helpful and appropriate. Information is not recorded on the number of occasions this has happened.