To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what analysis his Department has conducted into the reasons for failure to attend a Work Focused Interview by those lone parents sanctioned in 2005-06. (136157)

[holding answer 9 May 2007]: The most recent research on the effect of the sanctioning regime on lone parents is the qualitative research conducted by Joyce and Whiting in April and May 2005: Sanctions: Qualitative summary report on lone parent customers; DWP Working Paper No. 27, Lucy Joyce and Karen Whiting. This report is available in the Library.

In 2008, we expect to publish outcomes from qualitative research into the effect of benefit sanctions on employment decisions and moves into employment by lone parents and will place this in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of lone parents receiving sanctions for failing to attend a Work Focused Interview. (136158)

[holding answer 9 May 2007]: The purpose of Work Focused Interviews (WFIs) is to ensure that lone parents know about the support that is available to help them move into work. Lone parents who receive income support are told they have to attend WFIs as a condition of receiving their benefit, and to ensure this requirement is understood, we have reviewed the communications we send to lone parents to ensure they are clear and unambiguous.

Considerable effort is made to reduce the possibility of lone parents receiving benefit sanctions.

We telephone them to remind them of their appointment and re-arrange the WFI if necessary.

If a lone parent fails to attend their WFI on the first occasion, we telephone or write to them and if they make contact within five working days no sanction is imposed.

If no contact is made within five working days and the lone parent is considered to be in a vulnerable group, a home visit will be arranged. If contact is made, the interview will be rearranged, deferred or waived as appropriate.

Where contact is not made, a letter will be left at the lone parent’s home address giving them a further five days to contact Jobcentre Plus.

If the lone parent fails to attend again, we write to them asking them to demonstrate good cause for their failure to attend their WFI. If contact is made by the lone parent and good cause demonstrated, the appointment will again be re-arranged, deferred or waived as appropriate, and no sanction imposed.

If no contact is made by the lone parent but they subsequently attend a Jobcentre Plus office prior to the sanction being imposed, an attempt will be made to hold the interview immediately to prevent the sanction being imposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what analysis his Department has conducted of the impact on attainment of the Government's child poverty target of the number of lone parents sanctions for failing to attend a Work Focused Interview in 2005-06. (136159)

[holding answer 9 May 2007]: The information requested is not available.