§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have conducted, or are due to conduct, research into whether those subject to benefit sanctions are more or less likely to become involved in criminal activities; whether they will list actual or prospective publication dates and details; and whether they will summarise any results. [HL2603]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe Government have not previously conducted research into jobseekers' involvement in criminal activity following the imposition of a benefit sanction. The evaluation of the community sentence sanctions proposed in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill will include the impact on re-offending by people subject to a sanction. The research report will be published after the evaluation of the pilots, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.