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Question follow-through · 677

Social Security Benefits: Polygamy

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of benefits payments to spouses in polygamous marriages (i) made in the past 12 months and (ii) expected to be made in the forthcoming 12 months.

answeredDepartment for Work and Pensions

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Tabled
13 May 2026
Target answer date
19 May 2026
Answer
20 May 2026 · 7 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Social security and pensions

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Recorded timeline

  1. 13 May 2026

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of benefits payments to spouses in polygamous marriages (i) made in the past 12 months and (ii) expected to be made in the forthcoming 12 months.

  2. 19 May 2026

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 20 May 2026

    Answer published

    The most recent published data (August 2025) from the Housing Benefit Single Housing Extract (SHBE) indicates that there are fewer than ten households where claimants are recorded as being in a polygamous marriage formed in another country. In these excep...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Strong linkSame MP, department and exact heading

Social Security Benefits: Polygamy

19 May 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the benefits system continues to recognise polygamy in social security regulations.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Apprentices: Recruitment

21 May 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with employers on barriers to apprenticeship recruitment.

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Unemployment: Young People

1 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of young people not in employment, education or training in Fylde constituency; and what steps he is taking to reduce that figure.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Employment: Endometriosis

1 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of endometriosis on access to work for women.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Medical Certificates: Sick Leave

5 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Fit Note Reform Pilots, published on 21 May 2026, HCWS56, how much of the £3 million allocated to the pilot programme will be allocated to Lancashire and

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Medical Certificates: Sick Leave

5 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Fit Note Reform Pilots, published on 21 May 2026, HCWS56, how many Community Work and Health Team staff will be recruited in Lancashire and South Cumbria

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Medical Certificates: Sick Leave

5 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Fit Note Reform Pilots, published on 21 May 2026, HCWS56, how many employers in Lancashire and South Cumbria are expected to participate in the pilot.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Universal Credit

9 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether participation in the Jobs Guarantee will be mandatory for eligible Universal Credit claimants.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Employment Schemes: Young People

9 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets have been established for employment outcomes under the Jobs Guarantee.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Youth Guarantee: Per Capita Costs

9 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the average cost per participant under the Jobs Guarantee.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Pensions: Fraud

10 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pension scam cases reported in each year since 2021.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Workplace Pensions

10 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adding safeguards to pension transfers into different types of occupational pension schemes.