Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she will suspend all benefit debt deductions during the winter months with immediate effect.

DWP and HMRC currently have no plans to suspend benefit debt deductions.

There are established support processes in place for any claimants who may be experiencing financial difficulty.

Anyone unable to afford a rate of recovery proposed by DWP is encouraged to contact them so an affordable rate of repayment can be negotiated.

Anyone unable to afford a rate of recovery proposed by HMRC is encouraged to check the HMRC webpages, or contact them to see what support they can offer.