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| Minister Nick Boles 'urges rethink' on benefit sanctions | Minister Nick Boles 'urges rethink' on benefit sanctions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative minister has said there is an "inhuman inflexibility" to the way some welfare sanctions are applied. | A Conservative minister has said there is an "inhuman inflexibility" to the way some welfare sanctions are applied. |
| Business Minister Nick Boles said the sanctions "do need to be looked at" and suggested a change after the election, the Grantham Journal reported. | Business Minister Nick Boles said the sanctions "do need to be looked at" and suggested a change after the election, the Grantham Journal reported. |
| The paper said the Grantham and Stamford MP had been speaking to volunteers from a homeless charity. | The paper said the Grantham and Stamford MP had been speaking to volunteers from a homeless charity. |
| Mr Boles subsequently said he was a "strong advocate of benefit sanctions in principle and in practice". | |
| The government says sanctions - which include stopping benefits for someone not deemed to be seeking work - are a "vital backstop" for the welfare system. | The government says sanctions - which include stopping benefits for someone not deemed to be seeking work - are a "vital backstop" for the welfare system. |
| The measures, which apply to some Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance claimants, are used in a "tiny minority" of cases, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. | The measures, which apply to some Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance claimants, are used in a "tiny minority" of cases, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. |
| Government review | Government review |
| But critics say they penalise some of the most vulnerable people and the Trussell Trust charity has said they are forcing a rising number of people to turn to food banks. | But critics say they penalise some of the most vulnerable people and the Trussell Trust charity has said they are forcing a rising number of people to turn to food banks. |
| Last year the DWP agreed a series of reforms to the sanctions system after a government-commissioned review warned of significant inadequacies in official communications with claimants. | Last year the DWP agreed a series of reforms to the sanctions system after a government-commissioned review warned of significant inadequacies in official communications with claimants. |
| Mr Boles made the comments when he was given examples of people affected by sanctions, the Grantham Journal said. | Mr Boles made the comments when he was given examples of people affected by sanctions, the Grantham Journal said. |
| "With some of these cases it seems to me that there is an inhuman inflexibility that is imposed on them," he reportedly said, adding: "The sanctions are a worry, and do need to be looked at." | "With some of these cases it seems to me that there is an inhuman inflexibility that is imposed on them," he reportedly said, adding: "The sanctions are a worry, and do need to be looked at." |
| He also reportedly said there was "not a lot we can do" before the election and that the start of the next Parliamentary term was "the best time to make a change". | He also reportedly said there was "not a lot we can do" before the election and that the start of the next Parliamentary term was "the best time to make a change". |
| However the prime minister's official spokesman indicated there would be no review of the sanctions system. | |
| The spokesman told journalists: "What I believe Nick Boles has said today is that he is a 'strong supporter of benefit sanctions both in principle and practice - those who can work, should work'. | |
| "The prime minister entirely agrees with that." | |
| David Cameron "thinks it's right that sanctions are imposed where people do not meet their responsibilities," he added. |