Written questions by Sultana.

With reference to the Government's response to Recommendation 4 of the Work and Pensions Committee's Get Britain Working, Reforming Jobcentres report, how he plans to work with Universal Credit claimants and advice and advocacy organisations to ensure that the claimant commitment pathfinder tests are informed by their insights and experience.

The claimant commitment pathfinder is being developed using direct insight from Universal Credit claimants and work coaches. Through structured user research activity and ongoing feedback, we are assessing how the new approach operates in practice and whether it provides a clearer and improved experience from both a user and operational perspective. This engagement forms part of wider improvements to conditionality and claimant communication set out in the Government’s response to Recommendation 4. We are committed to publishing evaluation findings in line with Government Social Research processes.

With reference to the Government's response to Recommendation 4 of the Work and Pensions Committee's Get Britain Working, Reforming Jobcentres report, against what objectives the claimant commitment pathfinder tests will be evaluated.

Evaluation of the claimant commitment pathfinder will focus on how well the approach enables more tailored conditionality, clearer communication of expectations, and improved engagement between claimants and work coaches. It will also assess claimant understanding of their commitments and whether the approach leads to a better overall experience. These objectives align with the reform testing outlined in response to Recommendation 4 and we are committed to publishing evaluation findings in line with Government Social Research processes.

What steps he is taking to ensure that sanctions are imposed as a last resort and after adequate warning.

Sanctions are only ever applied if a claimant has failed to undertake their agreed requirements without good reason. All requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable. Requirements are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate for every claimant.Our work coaches regularly repeat key messages about the need for a claimant to meet their requirements and what the consequences of not meeting them are. If a claimant has known vulnerabilities, we take them into account and provide additional support where possible.Before a referral is made, a pre-referral quality check is completed as an additional safeguarding measure to check for any claimant vulnerabilities and to review the appropriateness of the activity set.If a referral is made, an independent DWP decision maker will further consider the claimant’s circumstances, whether the work-related requirement was appropriate, the external situation at the time of failure, and any evidence of good reason, before deciding whether a sanction is applicable.

What consideration he has given to lowering the sanctions daily rate reduction rate to less than 100% of the Universal Credit standard allowance.

Whilst a sanction typically results in a 100% reduction of the Universal Credit standard allowance rate for each day the sanction is in place (except for couples where this is halved), lower reduction rates apply in certain scenarios where it is reasonable due to the claimant’s circumstances, such as if they are aged 16 or 17. If a claimant is entitled to additional elements on top of their standard allowance such as for children or housing costs, they will continue to be paid. To keep the conditionality and sanctions system clear, fair and effective in promoting positive behaviours, we keep our policies and procedures under continuous review.

With reference to the Government's response to Recommendation 4 of the Work and Pensions Committee's Get Britain Working, Reforming Jobcentres report, what steps he is taking to monitor the quality and consistency of sanctions pre-referral quality checks.

The Pre-referral Quality Check is completed by a Jobcentre Team Leader, deputy, or colleague with the relevant experience. The Department has a variety of internal performance metrics in place to monitor the quality of our services. We regularly review referrals to ensure they are being delivered consistently and fairly.

What steps her Department is taking to increase (a) transparency and (b) control for consumers in the defined contribution pension transfer process, in relation to the inability of Independent Financial Advisers or pension holders to execute transfers based on a specified date or value.

The Department is working with regulatory bodies, the pensions industry and other stakeholders to identify and explore potential changes to pension transfer processes that will enable greater efficiency, whilst providing savers with effective consumer protection.In December 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a discussion paper (DP24/3). The document sought views on how to ensure that consumers who ask to transfer or consolidate, do so on a well-informed basis. It also explores how pension providers can action these requests both diligently and efficiently.The FCA is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions as it analyses the feedback received and determines next steps.Additionally, DWP officials have conducted work with other government departments, pensions institutions, consumer organisations and the pensions industry to consider if the practical application of the Conditions for Pension Transfer regulations could be improved, whilst retaining appropriate levels of protection for pension scheme members.We will look to share the outcome of these areas of work as soon as it is practical to do so.