Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on claimants of extending the waiting-day period for new benefit claims from three to seven days; and whether he will make a statement.

The principle behind the waiting days policy is that benefits are not intended to provide financial support for very brief breaks in employment or periods of sickness. The waiting days change should not be seen in isolation but as part of a package of new support measures designed to help people to return to work. Our assessment of the effects of the change is continuing.