To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing the first sanction for someone claiming Universal Credit with a formal warning; and if he will make a statement.

Evidence from a previous Early Warning trial in 2016 showed the cost of the warning system outweighed the benefits. Since then, we have completed two small-scale proofs of concept to test a simple warning process and currently have no plans to run another test.

The Department is focusing its efforts on intensifying the support we offer to get people back to work and into good jobs. The majority of sanctions are for failing to attend a meeting with a work coach and these can be quickly resolved by booking and attending another meeting.