To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants have had low mood cited as the principal condition for incapability to work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's definition is of low mood.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the most appropriate benefit for people with low mood.

The Department does not categorise claimants using the term, “low mood”. Therefore the requested data is not available.

Employment and Support Allowance is not based on a person’s health condition, but on the way that the condition limits their ability to function. The Work Capability Assessment, which determines eligibility for the benefit, assesses claimants against a number of descriptors covering physical, mental, cognitive and intellectual functions.