Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the last statutory review of the benefit cap under section 96A(1) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 took place; when they plan to conduct the next review; and what factors determine when the review takes place during a parliament.

The Secretary of State has a statutory obligation to review the levels of the benefit cap at least once in each Parliament unless an early election is called, as it was last year. A review will take place at an appropriate point in the future. When the Secretary of State decides to undertaking that review she will consider the national economic situation and any other matters that she considers relevant.