First evidence session for inquiry into benefit sanctions announced

• Parliament TV: Benefit sanctions session
• Transcript: Read the transcript of the session
• Inquiry: Benefit sanctions beyond the Oakley review
• Work and Pensions Committee

Witnesses

Wednesday 7 January 2014, Grimond Room, Portcullis House

At 9.30am

• Tony Wilson, Policy Director, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion
• Philip J Connolly, Policy and Communications Manager, Disability Rights UK
• Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive, Employment Related Services Association
• Paul Farmer, Chief Executive Officer, Mind
• Matthew Oakley, recent independent reviewer of JSA sanctions "validated by the Jobseekers Act 2013"

At approx. 10.30am

• Keith Dryburgh, Policy Manager, Citizens Advice Scotland
• Professor Peter Dwyer, Professor of Social Policy, University of York, and Principal Investigator, Welfare Conditionality project
• Nikki Hart, Blackpool Food Partnership Co-ordinator, Methodist Action North West
• Chris Mould, Chairman, The Trussell Trust
• Dr David Webster, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Glasgow

Purpose of the session

This evidence session is with a range of expert commentators; academics; contracted employment services providers; advice organisations; and representative organisations.

The session intends to explore:

• The lessons for wider sanctions policy of the Oakley Review of JSA sanctions in relation to back-to-work schemes
• Whether, and to what extent, it is appropriate to apply conditionality and sanctions to Employment and Support Allowance claimants; the risks of doing so; and how these risks should be mitigated
• Recent trends in sanctioning rates and the reasons for these
• The wider impacts of benefit sanctions on claimants, including food poverty and health impacts, and whether particular groups of claimants are more adversely affected than others
• Evidence on the efficacy of benefit sanctions, including whether they achieve their aim of moving more people into work.

 Further information

• About Parliament: Select Committees
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