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An influential MP has slammed the Tories for failing to introduce a scheme which would slash the number of cruel benefits sanctions- two years since it was pledged.

A “yellow card” system, which would give people 14 days to challenge an incorrect decision to dock their benefits, was first suggested in October 2015.

In an answer to a written parliamentary question from Labour MP Frank Field, the Government said the “evaluation [of the policy] has proved complex”.

(Image: Getty)

Frank Field, the chairman of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, told the Independent people were "reduced to going to food banks because they are being left so hungry, or they are losing their homes, which the yellow card would prevent.”

The warning system was first promised in October 2015 by Iain Duncan Smith, then Work and Pensions Secretary, who was under growing pressure from MPs.

He told MPs: “People are notified of a sanction and it is imposed immediately afterwards. In some cases, claimants go on to challenge the decision and the sanction may be overturned.

"We will trial arrangements whereby claimants are given a warning of our intention to sanction and a 14-day period to provide evidence of good reason before the decision to sanction is made.”

(Image: Getty)

The trial, which was took place in parts of Scotland, saw almost 500 people explaining why they had been incorrectly sanctioned.

The DWP said claimants from the trial were being interviewed to compile a "final report" for publication in Spring 2017.

Responding to the question posed by Frank Field, Minister Alok Sharma said that the department was still agreeing the final draft of the evaluation.

He continued: "There is a standard 12 week clearance and formatting period from the time the final draft is agreed to publication. We will make the publication date available once it has been confirmed."

After falling in 2016, the number of benefit sanctions rose as a result of the roll-out of the controversial universal credit scheme.

The all-in-one payment system, which combines six benefits, has been widely condemned after the six-week wait for the first award, since cut to five, as pushed many into rent arrears and left having to rely on food banks.

In the year to October 2016, 133,301 sanctions were imposed on universal credit claimants but that rose to 238,985 in the following 12 months.

But the DWP have said that number is now declining again.

A DWP spokesperson said: “We are committed to helping people improve their lives and Universal Credit is helping people into work faster and, for the first time, helping them earn more in work.

“These are figures which relate to some time ago, and in fact the rate of UC claimants with a sanction deduction has decreased since a peak in March 2017 and now remains fairly stable.

"This peak in early 2017 was the consequence of the department processing a backlog of outstanding decisions at the end of 2016.

“Sanctions are only used in a small minority of cases when someone has failed to meet the requirements without good reason.”

*An earlier version of this story said the scheme had been "shelved indefinitely". The DWP have disputed this and it has been corrected but they could not give a date for its introduction.