Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of Universal Credit sanctions made to couples which are a result of only one member of a couple not meeting their claimant commitment.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Where a couple claim Universal Credit reasonable and achievable conditionality requirements are agreed between the claimants and the work coach. The consequences of not meeting the requirements set out in the claimant commitment are fully explained to all claimants to ensure that they understand that this may result in a sanction.