Debate on sanctioning of benefit recipients
3 April 2014
On Thursday 3 April, MPs took part in a debate on a motion relating to the sanctioning of benefit recipients. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following representations from Mr Michael Meacher.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
This debate was the first item of main business and opened by Mr Michael Meacher. This debate began at 1.30pm following the Select Committee Statement on the Work and Pensions Committee Fourth Report and two Ministerial Statements on i) Standardised packaging of tobacco products and ii) Strategy for eradication of Bovine TB.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on sanctioning of benefit recipients
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on sanctioning of benefit recipients
Text of the Motion
"That this House notes that there have been many cases of sanctions being wrongfully applied to benefit recipients; and calls on the Government to review the targeting, severity and impact of such sanctions."
Relevant documents
Second Report from the Work and Pensions Committee, on the Role of Jobcentre Plus in the reformed welfare system, HC 479, and the Government response, HC 1210.(Response not yet Published)
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representation from Mr Michael Meacher at the public meeting on Tuesday 18 March 2014.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee on 18 March 2014
- Transcript of oral evidence heard on 18 March 2014
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.
An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.