Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will assess the potential merits of allowing government agencies to share information in cases where there are concerns for a claimant's wellbeing as a result on non-contact with that client.

DWP takes both its duty of confidentiality and its duty of care to citizens very seriously, and while in general it will only share personal data as the law requires or allows, the department has always reserved the right to take any necessary steps to protect the safety and welfare of any individual.

In any case where concerns about a person’s welfare exist, departmental policy already actively encourages DWP staff to act quickly in order to help reduce or remove the risk identified, and accommodates an approach to any organisation or agency which it is believed will be able to help in a given case.