Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance is provided for staff (a) working for and (b) contracted by his Department on dealing with clients who are or may be suicidal; and if he will place a copy of such guidance in the Library.

The Department for Work and Pensions takes seriously any declarations of intention to attempt suicide or self harm that are made by its customers. There is a clear, detailed action plan that staff and contractors must follow if a customer declares an intention to kill or harm him or herself. DWP also provides guidance to help deal with these incidents.

I have arranged for a copy of DWP’s guidance “Managing Customer Declarations of Intention to Attempt Suicide or Self Harm” to be put in the Library.