I thank everybody who participated in the debate. A number of outstanding questions remain; I look forward to the Minister’s response with the specifics.
We are in a recession. There are far too many people being sanctioned. There is an impact on people’s mental health. There is a social and financial impact, and I do think we need an answer to the question of why cost of living payments have been taken off people who have been sanctioned. It is bad economics. I am offering the
Minister a meeting with me and reps from the Public and Commercial Services Union. They will explain the concerns that staff have about the sanctions regime.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved ,
That this House has considered DWP’s policy on benefit sanctions.