§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is his policy under the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill that benefits will be suspended for offenders immediately following the Probation Service issuing breach proceedings on individual cases; and if he will make a statement. [104745]
§ Angela EagleThe Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, which is currently being considered by Parliament, will reinforce the link between rights to benefits and responsibilities to society. Offenders aged 18 to 59, who are referred to Court for breaching a specified community sentence, will be subject to a benefit sanction from the first practicable benefit payday after the relevant benefits office receives a notification from the Probation Service that court proceedings have been initiated.
In the case of Jobseeker's Allowance and certain Training Allowances, benefit will be withdrawn. Hardship payments will be available for vulnerable groups and others at risk of hardship. Income Support recipients will have their benefit reduced by 40 per cent. or 20 per cent. of the single person's adult rate, subject to their circumstances.
This measure will initially be piloted. During the pilots the sanction period will be four weeks.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will have their benefits suspended per annum following a breach of a community sentence under the terms of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill; and if he will make a statement. [104747]
§ Angela EagleIt is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people who will have their benefit withdrawn or reduced following a breach of a community sentence. Data collected by the Home Office indicate that, in England and Wales, around 25,000 people a year are currently referred to Court for breach proceedings. No information is held about how many of these are in receipt of Social Security benefits. After this measure is introduced, there is expected to be some behavioural effect which will reduce the number who breach their sentences.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, how much money will be set aside for the Hardship Fund to be used in the case of withdrawal of benefits for the first financial year for which the provisions are implemented; and if he will make a statement. [104746]
§ Angela EagleThere will be no "Hardship Fund". Hardship payments will be made, where appropriate, from general benefit expenditure. Similar arrangements already exist for making hardship payments where Jobseeker's Allowance is withdrawn as a result of labour market employment sanctions.