Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to include debts owed to her Department in its new breathing space scheme.

The Department for Work and Pensions is supportive of the Breathing Space policy. Departmental officials are working with HM Treasury to understand how the policy could apply to benefit related debts and we will provide a response to the public consultation in line with the end of January deadline.