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1137502

registered interest
date	08/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Disability: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what specific qualifications are required to operate as a disability assessor for her Department.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
uin	274452
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>Health Professionals that carry out Work Capability and Personal Independence Payment assessments on behalf of the department must have the following qualifications and experience:</p><p> </p><ul><li>are an occupational therapist, nurse, physiotherapist, doctor (or paramedic - PIP only)</li><li>fully registered with the relevant licensing body (doctors must have a licence to practise)</li><li>the licensing body has not placed any sanctions on the health professional's registration</li><li>at least 2 years post full registration experience or less than 2 years post full registration experience by specific agreement with the department.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Health Professionals are subject to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in disability assessment for both physical and mental health conditions and have to be approved by the department. Health Professionals are then required to complete a programme of continuing professional development.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 11/07/2019 14:37:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1137626

registered interest
date	08/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Personal Independence Payment Administrative Exercise data release of 4 July 2019, what accounts for the difference between her Department’s original Equality Impact Assessment in 2017 of 14 per cent of claimants being affected following review, and the figures published by her Department showing that only 0.8 per cent of cases have received an increased award after being reviewed.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	274638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>Our published estimates were produced before knowing the full detail of which claimants would be eligible for additional payments following the MH legal judgment.</p><p> </p><p>There was significant uncertainty around the estimates prior to the start of the administrative exercise in June 2018, from which point we had revised guidance in place to reflect the judgment, having consulted with key stakeholders. Our estimates remain subject to change as we monitor the outcomes of the exercise.</p><p> </p><p>We are intent on making sure everyone who is affected by the judgement is identified and are committed to ensuring that disabled people get the support they are entitled to.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/07/2019 16:27:06 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1137628

registered interest
date	08/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Personal Independence Payment Administrative Exercise data release, published by her Department on 4 July 2019, if she will commission an independent comparative assessment of the estimate of the number of claimants that would be affected in Equality Impact Assessment published in 2017 and the figures published by her Department on 4 July 2019.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	274639
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to commission an independent assessment. Our original estimates were based on the best available information at the time, and we were clear that they were very likely to change as the guidance implementing the judgement was produced and data was gathered from the administrative exercise to implement it.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/07/2019 16:19:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1137155

registered interest
date	05/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the 29 April 2019 Health Select Committee news item, Committee publishes doctors’ views on Fit Notes and ESA appeals, what estimate her Department has made of the number of claimants who challenged their work capability assessment decisions but were refused employment support allowance while their appeal was pending due to her Department sending ambiguous ESA65B letters to claimants’ GPs.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	273727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not available.</p><p> </p><p>We have revised the ESA65B letter, which went live from 3rd June 2019. The letter gives clear clinical discretion to GPs to continue issuing fit notes in appropriate circumstances, such as when an appeal against a Department for Work and Pensions decision is being undertaken, where a claimant’s condition has worsened or if the claimant has developed a new health condition or disability.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/07/2019 12:55:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1137167

registered interest
date	05/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Buildings: Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's policy is on mandatory asbestos testing in public sector buildings.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	273788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulation 2012 requires duty holders (normally the owner or person responsible for maintenance of the building) in all public sector buildings to identify and record the presence and condition of asbestos-containing materials. In practice, this will require a survey of the building and, if necessary, the testing of any material suspected of containing asbestos.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/07/2019 12:18:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1137179

registered interest
date	05/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Courts: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many court buildings were referred to the Health and Safety Executive because of (a) the presence of asbestos and (b) other concerns in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Leeds East
tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
uin	273814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) receives circa 26,000 health and safety concerns a year. HSE does not receive this information in a format which enables customisable searching (e.g. type of business, premises, or subject matter), as most of the data is provided in a free-text format to make it as easy as possible for members of the public, and employees to report health and safety matters.</p><p> </p><p>HSE’s Corporate Intelligence System holds data about our interactions with employers and details about any enforcement action taken. We have identified 21 health and safety concerns about UK Courts</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Asbestos</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Other concerns </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>3</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>20</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/07/2019 12:46:40 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1136405

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps her Department has taken to increase public understanding of invisible disabilities.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272164
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>On Tuesday 25 June, the Government launched a new cross-government approach on disability which is guided by a vision that recognises the contributions that disabled people make and where disabled people can participate fully in society. To drive forward this approach, government will establish a new cross-departmental disability team in the Cabinet Office, and the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) will be incorporated into the team. This move recognises that disabled people, including those with hidden disabilities, face barriers across the life course and a wide range of aspects of their lives and coordinated cross-government action is therefore vital.</p><p>The British Standards Institution, and others involved in supporting the “Grace’s Sign” campaign, are currently exploring the potential for developing a symbol for hidden disabilities. The project is in an early scoping phase, but its intended aim is that the symbol would be recognised by the International Organization for Standardization. Achieving this involves a multi-stage process, which can take time, but if successful, greatly enhances the chances of its sustained future use in public signage. If successful, greater use and public acceptance of such a symbol would increase awareness of hidden disabilities, and help promote an understanding of the possible access and support needs of people with hidden disabilities.</p><p>Various Sector Champions appointed by the Minister for Disabled People are working within their sectors to support all disabled people, raise awareness of their needs and drive improvements in how these are met. Examples relating to hidden disabilities include: railway franchises thinking about supporting people with a wider range of disabilities, including through quiet areas at stations; a lanyard to identify those with hidden disabilities at airports, with staff trained to recognise this and offer help; and within the retail sector, many large stores holding quiet hours (no music and dimmed lighting) to improve the shopping experience for those with some hidden disabilities (such as autism or ADHD).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/07/2019 15:56:14 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1137007

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who decided not to pursue an appeal for personal independence payments due to the length of the waiting time for an appeal.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	273493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>There is no administrative data held that could determine the reasons why an individual, if dissatisfied with the decision received after their MR is completed, might not choose to pursue an appeal with HMCTS.</p><p> </p><p>There is already some data in the public domain that may be of interest. The Personal Independent Payment (PIP) Official Statistics holds information on the volumes of Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) registered (<em>Table 7A</em>) and cleared (<em>Table 7B</em>), and can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-april-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-april-2019</a></p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice Tribunal Statistics Quarterly publication contains the number of PIP cases for which an appeal is lodged with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) (<em>Table SSCS1</em>), and can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2019</a></p><p> </p><p>HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HCMTS) is taking positive steps to reduce the waiting time for appeals to be heard in the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) jurisdiction. In 2018, 232 medical members and 118 disability-qualified members were additionally appointed to the SSCS jurisdiction and an extra 129 fee-paid judges have recently been appointed. The SSCS jurisdiction will also benefit from 100 salaried judges and 170 fee-paid judges being recruited across tribunals more widely. In addition, HMCTS is developing a new digital system with a view to enabling speedier processing of appeals and a better service for all parties to the proceedings. Case-management “triage” sessions are also being conducted, with the aim of reducing the number of cases that need to progress to an oral hearing.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/07/2019 15:18:58 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1137015

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit: Terminal Illnesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions her Department's assessors have formally questioned a prognosis given by health professionals in DS1500 forms in each year for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	273334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>The Department’s assessment providers do not record the information requested. If they have a question about information recorded on a DS1500, or if there is no DS1500 available, they have an obligation to contact the relevant clinician to obtain further information. If they do not have any questions about information on the DS1500, they do not need to contact the clinician who completed the form.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 09/07/2019 13:22:50 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1137017

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment claims made under special rules and supported by a clinician via a DS1500 were rejected by her Department in each year for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	273335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 09/07/2019 14:12:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane