Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2014-03-25.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 March (WA 74), whether they will consider monitoring the nutrition and health of children in families when benefit sanctions are imposed on a primary care-giver; and if not, why not.

Lord Freud

The Government does not collect nutrition and health data in the way described and has no plans to do so.

Claimants are expected to take reasonable steps to prepare for or find work. Safeguards are in place to ensure claimants are capable of achieving these steps, that they are appropriate to helping them towards or into work. These safeguards include claimants and their advisers agreeing what the actions will be, claimants being asked to give their reason for complying with the agreed actions before a sanction is imposed, the right to request a reconsideration of a decision and to lodge an appeal with Her Majesty’s Court & Tribunal Service.

Claimants whose benefit is sanctioned can apply for hardship payments