Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 June 2004. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 June 2004 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been penalised with reduced benefit for failing to attend a compulsory work-focused interview in each year for which figures are available, broken down by benefit received in each case. - Includes fct that information requested is not currently available.

Answer: Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been penalised with reduced benefit for failing to attend a compulsory work-focused interview in each year for which figures are available, broken down by benefit received in each case. [177529] Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not currently available. The Social Security Advisory Committee identified in late 2003 that work needed to be undertaken to review and evaluate the Sanctions Regime and the DWP is nearing completion on a new Sanctions Database which will be operational following testing and evaluation. This will provide detailed sanction MI on a regular basis and information will be published in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 177529; 422 c1444W;422 c1443-4W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Benefits rules Deductions Interviews Recipients Social security benefits
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk