Ill health stems from the impossibility of paying off existing debts while a one month or three month sanction is in force and the continuing enforcement of rent, council tax and fines through through draconian procedures, which were written on the assumption that there is some income available, when there is none.

NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE ENQUIRY INTO BENEFIT SANCTIONS.

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I have sent the following information to the National Audit Office and will follow up with a more detailed submission, which will also use a selection of comments from this post TAP Facebook

There was a seminar in the House of Lords on the 12 January 2012 which I organised for and was chaired by Lord Ramsbotham (Crossbench), with the support of Lord Kirkwood (Lib Dem) and Lord McKenzie (Labour).  It was attended by Lord Freud, at which several of us from the NGOs reminded Lord Freud about the importance of the Wednesbury principles being applied when jobcentre officials are making decsions about benefit sanctions. I attach a note about the Wednesbury principles.

JUDICIAL REVIEW AND THE WEDNESBURY PRINCIPLES.

The upshot of that seminar was the following assurance given by Lord Freud to Peers on the 25th January 2012.

(Hansard 25 Jan 2012:Column 1061; 4.15) “We spoke about the Wednesbury principles at our seminar, and I can reassure noble Lords that the decision-making process is and will continue to be consistent with these fundamental principles of public law. The department strives to ensure that no decision is influenced by irrelevant factors and that decisionmakers act in a rational and fair manner, taking into account all relevant matters before exercising a discretion. For example, the primary legislation expressly sets out that a conditionality sanction applies only if there is no good reason for the failure. In determining whether there is such good reason, decision-makers will have to consider all relevant matters raised by the claimant within a particular time period, including information about a claimant's health condition and financial circumstances”.

In a phone call to the NAO I mentioned a sanction case I supported. It is also on the TAP website (anonimised). I hope it gives them some leads about the impact of debt and no income on health. Sanctions export costs to the NHS and so to the taxpayer.

John Smith - Statement to the Magistrates at Highbury Corner.

Ill health stems from the impossibility of paying off existing debts while a one month or three month sanction is in force and the continuing enforcement of rent, council tax and fines through through draconian procedures, which were written on the assumption that there is some income available, when there is none.

Rev Paul Nicolson