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65379

registered interest
date	02/07/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many decisions based on work capability assessments were overturned during the completion of the mandatory reconsideration period in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2012-13.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	203624
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p /> <p>The Department is collecting information to understand how the introduction of mandatory reconsideration (MR) is operating.</p><p> </p><p>However, this data is not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available at this time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 07/07/2014 14:22:31 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

63983

registered interest
date	25/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog of work capability assessments.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	202333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>We are working closely with Atos to deliver the best possible service for claimants and ensure the number of cases outstanding with them continues to fall.</p><p> </p><p>We announced last summer that we were looking to bring in further provision to support the delivery of the Work Capability Assessment. In the meantime, we have been working closely with Atos to improve their performance and have put in place changes to better manage the flow of work between the Department, all designed to reduce waiting times for claimants. These measures are taking effect and the backlog of cases has fallen over the past few months.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 02/07/2014 16:12:38 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

63126

registered interest
date	23/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the new Work Capability Assessment contract or contracts will (1) require customer-facing staff to be suitably qualified to take decisions, and (2) lead to an improvement in the quality of assessments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
uin	HL535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The future contract for provision of Work Capability Assessments to the DWP will detail requirements in relation to recruitment, training and monitoring of healthcare professionals designed to assure the quality of assessments.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 01/07/2014 13:10:05 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

62410

registered interest
date	17/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that reminders should be sent by text or other telephonic means informing people of the date, time and location of their upcoming work capability assessments.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Mark Hendrick
uin	201091
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department is keen that claimants are encouraged to attend their Work Capability Assessments, however any adjustments to the process which involve the means described would be subject to commercial and operational considerations. As such I am unable to commit to making this Departmental policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 24/06/2014 16:36:34 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

61530

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the decision by Atos Healthcare to end its contract early, whether that contract will now be made public.
tabling member printed	Lord Morrow
uin	HL299
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>A redacted copy of the Medical Services Contract between the Department for Work and Pensions and Atos Healthcare was placed in the House of Lords library on 14<sup>th</sup> September 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Health Services Category Team are currently undertaking the necessary contractual action following the mutual Termination of the Medical Services Contract with Atos and an updated version of the contract will be placed in the library by 30<sup>th</sup> July 2014.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 19/06/2014 14:02:26 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	3795 label Biography information for Lord Morrow

61833

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to collect data on work capability assessment outcomes for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia; and if he will estimate the cost of collecting such data.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
uin	200544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department does collect some data on Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia but it is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 18/06/2014 15:55:32 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

61848

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what response he has given to the letter to him of 21 March 2014 from the Welfare Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the recommendations of its review of work capability assessments.
tabling member constituency	Dumfries and Galloway
tabling member printed	Mr Russell Brown
uin	200621
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p>As Minister of State with responsibility for this policy area I responded to the letter from the Welfare Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 26 April 2014 thanking them for their recommendations and drawing out the links between those and the recommendations made by Doctor Litchfield in the fourth Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment published in December 2013. <strong>   </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 18/06/2014 14:55:08 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	588 label Biography information for Mr Russell Brown

61849

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what response he has given to the recommendation of the Welfare Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament that (a) those living with long-term progressive conditions should not be subject to reassessments and (b) changes should be made to the work capability assessment criteria to better recognise the impact of hidden symptoms and fluctuating conditions including multiple sclerosis.
tabling member constituency	Dumfries and Galloway
tabling member printed	Mr Russell Brown
uin	200620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>As Minister of State with the responsibility for this policy area I responded to the letter dated 21 March 2014 from the Welfare Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 26 April. In this letter I:</p><p> </p><p>a) responded by explaining the importance of claimants having contact with the Department; the need to move away from the old style Incapacity Benefit; and that Employment and Support Allowance claimants, including those claimants with progressive illnesses, will be placed in the Support Group if they meet the criteria.</p><p> </p><p>b) responded that through the Evidence Based Review of the Work Capability Assessment the current descriptors were tested against an alternative assessment and what the findings indicated</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 18/06/2014 15:07:05 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	588 label Biography information for Mr Russell Brown

61069

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training (a) Atos staff and (b) staff of his Department are given in mental health for the purposes of assessing whether claimants are fit for work.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	199817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>All healthcare professionals receive training in mental health issues as part of their induction training, are required to engage in a programme of continuing medical education which includes modules on mental health issues, and have access to Mental Function Champions.</p><p> </p><p>Atos training and guidance materials are regularly reviewed and external experts including the Royal College of Psychiatrists are involved in quality assurance.</p><p> </p><p>All healthcare professionals are monitored to ensure that their work meets the required quality standards. If a problem is identified, the healthcare professional may be required to undertake tailored training, which may involve training in mental health issues if required.</p><p> </p><p>DWP staff receive training in respect of decisions concerning medical or disability issues, including mental health. Specifically learning is provided on:</p><p> </p><ul><li>understanding the WCA descriptors</li><li>gathering evidence from the claimant and medical professionals</li><li>using the evidence to apply the descriptors and determine capability for work.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Within the learning emphasis is placed on the on-going support available to Decision Makers from Atos Healthcare to interpret and understand medical information.</p><p> </p><p>In the Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment published in December 2013, Doctor Litchfield made a number of recommendations related to training in mental health which have been accepted subject to further scoping work.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 16/06/2014 14:39:23 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

61070

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have currently been waiting (a) up to one month, (b) one to two months, (c) two to three months, (d) three to four months, (e) four to five months and (f) more than six months for their appeal against their being deemed fit for work to be determined.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	199818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits including a person's entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p> </p><p>Whilst a work capability assessment (WCA) can be a key factor in an ESA decision, it is not the only consideration. Appeals are brought against ESA refusals, and not WCA decisions themselves. The Tribunal does not record information on those ESA appeals in which the WCA decision is a factor, and as such HMCTS does not hold the specific information requested.</p><p> </p><p>Information on appeals against ESA decisions is published by HMCTS in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report for the period January to March 2014, published on 12 June 2014, can be viewed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014</a></p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 18/06/2014 15:20:45 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn