§ 11. Mr. HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research he has commissioned into the effects of benefit sanctions. [55498]
§ Mr. DarlingIt is a fundamental principle that rights are matched with corresponding responsibilities. Where appropriate sanctions are applied where people choose not to meet their responsibilities.
We have undertaken a range of research into benefit sanctions and have published the results. An important finding has been that those jobseekers subject to longer term sanctions generally increase their efforts to find work, often with success. For some, this is the first time they will have made a serious attempt to find work.