Category Archives: Disabled people

50,000 disabled people pushed into poverty as Bedroom Tax approaches

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at a summit on the impact of the Bedroom Tax on disabled people, today revealed fresh evidence of the devastating impact this Government is having on disabled people.

At the event in Southwark, Liam Byrne revealed fresh evidence that the Welfare Uprating Bill will drive 50,000 disabled people into poverty, just one week before the Bedroom Tax hits 440,000 households home to a disabled person.

Liam Byrne MP said:

“In two weeks 13,000 millionaires get will get tax cut of £2,000 per week, but hundreds of thousands of people hit by the Bedroom Tax will pay an extra £728 a year.

“Hundreds of thousands of disabled people will be punished by the hated Bedroom Tax, yet the budget offered them not a penny of help. Instead we have got the spare home subsidy for Britain’s richest families to add to the £100,000 a year tax cut arriving in a few days’ time.

“That tells you everything you need to know about this Government’s values.

“In no world is that fair. Disabled people are seeing attack after attack after attack – from unfair changes to DLA, a Work Capability Assessment that is out of control and now changes to benefits that will drive 50,000 disabled people into poverty. The Government’s plans are in chaos, and that’s why it’s so important to hear what disabled people have to say.

“We are very proud to be the party who appointed the first minister for disabled people. And we want to carry on listening to the views of disabled people. We want to hear your ideas for the future, but also we want to hear what’s going wrong now.”

Ends

Editor’s Notes:

1.   In a response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Liam Byrne, DWP Minister Steve Webb admits that “we estimate that around an extra 50,000 disabled individuals will be considered to be in poverty under the relative income measure as a result of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill. We also estimate that the average change for households containing a disabled person will be around -£3 a week.” (Hansard 11 Feb 2013 : Column 508W)   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130211/text/130211w0003.htm#13021150000029

 

2.   The Government will cut housing benefit for people with a spare room in their social or council let home, despite the DWP impact assessment acknowledging that there is a shortage of smaller properties for tenants to move to. The DWP’s impact assessment says that of the 660,000 people affected, almost two thirds are disabled. The average loss is £14 a week.

 

My speech to the Chamber today in the Opposition Day Debate on the Bedroom Tax

Mr Speaker

I rise to support the motion; we should support this motion this evening in the House this afternoon and in the division lobbies this evening.

Since the moment the Welfare Reform Bill saw the light we have warned this bedroom tax was bound to fail.

My Rt Hon friend, the Member for East Ham said:

“The reality is that most people under occupying their home currently will not have a smaller alternative to move to.  New social rented homes are not being built.  And of course, if they did have somewhere smaller to move to, the main purpose of this change – which is to reduce housing benefit spending – would not be achieved.”

My Noble friend, the Lord McKenzie of Luton warned:

“The discretionary housing budget paid for by increased pain on the bedroom tax does not adequately address the strong reservations that are being expressed. Nor does it compensate for the misery that these regulations will bring to potentially hundreds of thousands of households.”

In the divisions of the House, the other place, on the floor of this chamber and in committee we have forced votes as developments which will protect people from the disaster about to hit them in April.

The Flaws

Mr Speaker,

Over the weeks gone by, the faults and flaws which my Rt Hon Friend the Member for East Ham warned us of have emerged to all their Technicolor, 3-D , horror.

First, we discuss that someone handed a 6 months’ sentence is exempt.

Yet a mother, a mother like say Alison Huggan with two sons serving in the military, is not exempt but clobbered.

Then we hear foster parents will be hurt.

Then we hear couples where one is a pensioner and the other is not would be hit.

And of course, looming over all of this is the truth revealed in the Departments own assessment that 2/3 of those hit are disabled. Indeed the National Housing Federation estimates 200,000 are receiving Disability Living Allowance.

Cruelty

Mr Speaker this is a policy that is unique in its cruelty.

It is unique because it sets out to tackle a problem – the problem of under-occupancy – but will only succeed in making the forecast savings, if it fails.

The Government’s Budget assessment says clearly:  there’s not enough properties for those trying to dodge the tax go more into.

They’re firing at vulnerable people, having first made sure there is nowhere to seek shelter.

That I will suggest to the House is a policy of unique cruelty

Unusual

But, Mr Speaker this is not simply a cruel punishment.

This policy is a cruel and unusual punishment.

It’s not normal, it’s not usual in a modern, advanced civilised country to reward the rich and punish the poor.

It beggars belief that this policy to charge the poor more begins at the same time we charge the rich less.

Next month those on a million a year got a £2,000 a week tax cut.

And those with a spare bedroom got a £14 a week rent rise.

In what world is that fair? Or normal? Or usual?

Only in a Tory world.

Useless (1)

Now, it may be Mr Speaker, that the Secretary of State believes that this policy is indeed going to save his Department £490 million a year.

It may be that the Secretary of State genuinely believes this policy is going to save the £2 billion over the forecast period.

It may be the Secretary of State genuinely believes all this.

I put it to the House that is the Secretary of State trulybelieves this, then he is frankly too foolish to be the Secretary of State.

Because the evidence is now staring him in the face.

He will have read the reports to Cabinets in national governments and councils all over Britain.

They couldn’t be clearer: this policy is heading to cost more than it saves.

Even the Communities and Local Government Secretary is so worried this government’s shambolic reforms are so badly thought through he felt obliged to write to the Prime Minister to tell him that up to 40,000 people could be made homeless and the reforms would actually cost more than they save.

And across the country it gets worse

Hull City Council says that 4,700 tenants will be hit, but there are just 73 one and two bedroom properties available to let. They are estimating a shortfall for 4,700 tenants – costing rate payers a fortune.

In North Lanarkshire Council estimate they will lose £1.6m of additional arrears in arrears.

Useless (2)

So here we have a Department at the very heights of its powers.

A department that brought us a Work Programme that is worse than doing nothing.

A department that is presiding over a Universal Credit system collapsing into chaos.

A department that now offers a policy that costs more than it saves.

And why? Because the Secretary of State was rolled over by the Chancellor – and a downgraded Chancellor at that.

We have now the worst of all worlds.

A department suffering from an excess of stupidity, and an absence of spine.

The cost is paid not by the members of the front bench but by a million children plunged into poverty and 3 ½ million disabled people hurt by his reforms.

Useless (3)

And yet, instead of seeking to bring the Housing Benefit bill down by doing the sensible thing and building more social houses, the government has cut the home building grant so hard that we have a house building crisis.

Now what does the Leader of the Liberal Democrat party have to say about that little mess?

Well, here is Nick Clegg’s comments on 24 January:

“If I’m going to be sort of self-critical, there was this reduction in capital spending when we came into the Coalition Government.”

So during the current spending round, we’re spending £94 billion on Housing Benefit, and £4.5 billion on building homes.

Crazy. And it’s going to get worse….especially after the downgrade.

Conclusion

 

The tragedy, Mr Speaker is that there is an alternative.

To bring the welfare bill down, we must get people into jobs.

That’s why we’re calling for a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee.

That would be real welfare reform.

That would be real welfare to work.

That would be a real alternative, not a cruel and unusual punishment from a cruel and useless government.

 

 

Disability living allowance: why Labour’s safeguards are crucial

Today the government will set out its plans to change disability living allowance, while Labour will set out the safeguards we’re determined to see put in place.

Right now disabled people are being hit from all sides. On Monday ministers had to be summoned to the House of Commons to explain why they were shutting Remploy factories without any serious plan to get sacked workers into jobs. The Work Programme has proved a catastrophe for disabled people wanting work. It found jobs for just a thousand workers. Scope’s Richard Hawkes wasn’t wrong when he said: “These shocking figures indicate a system that is not working for disabled people.”

But there’s worse. The government’s new bedroom tax is threatening disabled people with big cuts in vital housing benefit. And a loophole in the law means a family caring for an adult child on DLA will be hit by the benefit cap. The government’s management of Atos is so inept that a quarter of Atos assessment centres don’t even have disability access. It’s enough to make you think this government cares very little for the livelihoods of our disabled neighbours.

That’s why we’ve got to be ultra-cautious about DLA reform, and it’s why we’ll absolutely insist vital safeguards are in place.

First, the government mustn’t take away DLA from anyone who will then be forced to give up a job. The government’s record of helping disabled people into work is frankly shocking. They mustn’t make a bad situation worse.

Second, the new test mustn’t push people into the NHS or social care system. Both are under unbearable pressure as it is. Last week the chairman of UK Statistics confirmed the NHS is facing a real cut in spending. And we know the social care system is being hammered by cuts in council spending.

Third, the reforms mustn’t have any knock-on effect to carers, who are already feeling the pressure. DLA helps disabled people to manage some of their own care needs; without this support, they could increasingly rely on family members. According to the Hardest Hit survey, three in 10 disabled people stated that without DLA their carer would not be able to work. Carers UK estimates that 10,000 people could lose carer’s allowance as a result of cuts to DLA. Without this vital care, disabled people could be forced to turn to overstretched social care services.

Unless the government guarantees these safeguards, disabled people will quite simply get pushed into poverty. We won’t stand by and watch that happen. Today half of households living in poverty are home to someone with a disability. We cannot let that one go.

One more thing. There must now be an assessment, in the round, of all the changes hitting disabled people: in the jargon of government, a cumulative impact assessment. Esther McVey, the disability minister, weakly said to the Commons that she wouldn’t order one because Labour never did one. How pathetic. Labour never inflicted the concerted attack we’re now seeing on disabled citizens. How on earth do we know whether taking 500,000 people off DLA won’t be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for thousands and thousands of families? This has widespread public support. Pat Onion’s petition on the No 10 website, calling for the same idea, attracted more than 62,000 signatures with almost no publicity.

Labour supports the principle of a test for DLA. But the government’s way forward is going to cost £500m. For some families the cut will be the difference between a life of independence and a life of poverty. That’s not a price Britain should be prepared to pay.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/13/disability-living-allowance-labour-safeguards

 

My comments following today’s Urgent Question on Remploy

 

It was frankly disgraceful that ministers had to be hauled to the House of Commons to explain their plans to shut down Remploy. It showed total contempt for Remploy workers and total disdain for their future.

 

‘Ministers gave the Commons a shocking performance and refused point blank to halt the closure programme until we’ve discussed why the DWP has performed so poorly in getting disabled workers sacked earlier in the year back into work.”

 

Remploy factory closures are shameful

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to news that Ministers are set to close at least 10 more Remploy factories and a further five have been put at risk, said:
 
“This is a shameful act from a contemptuous government. A day after the Autumn Statement in which the claimant count was revised up, David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith have thrown out of work almost 1,000 disabled workers.

“Iain Duncan Smith didn’t even have the nerve to come to Parliament to tell MPs face to face. Instead he chose to hide in his office while he was putting disabled workers out of a job. He ought to be ashamed of himself.

“Iain Duncan Smith is the minister who said that Remploy workers did nothing better than sit around drinking cups of coffee. Now, in a final act of contempt he has sacked almost all of them, despite knowing that 90% of those who lost their jobs in the last closures are still out of work.
 
“We say loud and clear this round of closures must stop. David Cameron’s government is failing to get disabled workers back into jobs. The Work Programme is worse than doing nothing. This closure plan must stop until there’s a plan that works to get disabled workers back into jobs.”
 
Ends

Editor’s Notes:
 
1. Remploy phase two – A day after the Autumn Statement in which the claimant count was revised up, the Government is throwing nearly 1,000 disabled workers on the dole.
 
Ten factories are proposed for closure. These are Clydebank, Burnley, Dundee, Heywood, Huddersfield, Norwich, Portsmouth, Porth, Stirling and Sunderland.
 
Three factories face significant restructuring. All staff are at risk of redundancy. These are Neath, Blackburn and Sheffield.
 
Two factories are not saleable as a going concern. All staff are at risk of redundancy. These are Leven and Cowdenbeath.
 
Three factories are safe. These are Birmingham, Coventry and Derby.
 
2. Today, Labour revealed that in the communities where factories are earmarked for closure there are 66% more people chasing every job than the national average

The Government’s much vaunted work programme secured just 1.3 per cent of people on disability benefits into work.
Attached Claimants per vacancy in constituencies affected

3. In July Maria Miller guaranteed this Government would more disabled people into work:

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): The Minister referred to this as a difficult decision, but for the Remploy workers watching this debate it is a tragic decision. She has just mentioned the numbers who left work last time who have never been employed since. How many can she guarantee will be in secure employment in 12 months’ time?
Maria Miller: I can guarantee that by using the money differently we can help more disabled people into work. As a result of today’s measure [adding £15 million to Access to Work], some 8,000 disabled people can get into work who would not have had that support otherwise.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm120710/debtext/120710-0001.htm

4. 1.3% of ESA claimants referred on to the Work Programme found a job lasting more than six months.

This rate is outcomes divided by referrals:

Outcomes are for ESA volunteers, New ESA claimants, ESA ex-IB claimants over the period June 2011 to May 2012. See Table 1.1: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/work_programme/wp_release_nov12.pdf?x=1

Referrals are for the same payment groups over the same period (See Table 1.1 in the annex)
 
5. The Written Ministerial Statement will appear here (copied in full): http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-written-statements/

Written Ministerial Statement
 
Thursday 6 December 2012
 
THE DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS
 
Disability Employment
 
The Minister for Disabled People (Ms Esther McVey MP): I would like to make a statement on Remploy to update the House on the next steps in the reforms that my predecessor as Minister for Disabled People, the Rt Hon Member for Basingstoke, set out in this House on 10 July 2012.  
 
The Remploy Board is today making make an announcement, and is quite rightly informing all those employees whom it affects.
 
The Remploy Board has now concluded its assessment of the Stage 2 businesses. It has been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and independent business analysts to explore in detail whether the remaining factory based businesses (Automotive, Automotive Textiles, E-Cycle, Frontline, Furniture, Marine and Packaging), CCTV contracts and Employment Services could viably exit government ownership and if so, how this could be best achieved.  
 
Further work is being undertaken on Employment Services and a separate announcement will follow when a decision has been made.
 
The Government has decided to confirm the exit of Stage 2 factories and businesses, and the Remploy Board has today announced the results of its analysis and its proposals for a commercial process for stage 2 factory businesses and the CCTV business.
 
The Automotive business operating from factories in Coventry, Birmingham and Derby is considered by Remploy to be a viable business. It has the potential to successfully move out of Government funded support as a going concern. Remploy will now move to market this business , there is no proposal to close this business and staff at these sites are not formally at risk of redundancy.
 
The Automotive Textiles operation at Huddersfield is not commercially viable and the factory there is proposed for closure. All staff in this business are now at risk of redundancy.
 
The Furniture business based in Neath (Port Talbot), Sheffield and Blackburn has the potential to be commercially viable but would require significant restructuring consideration and downsizing of its operations. Remploy will market this business as a prospective going concern, while recognising that the current trading position of the business may ultimately result in no viable bids being received and that there may therefore be consequential redundancies and factory closures. All staff in this business are now at risk of redundancy.
 
The Marine Textiles business (based at Leven and Cowdenbeath) has an established market position and might attract commercial interest. Remploy Management will discuss any potential opportunities for a commercial exit with its current distributor and any other parties who express an interest. However the business currently makes significant losses and is not saleable currently as a going concern. The employees of the Marine Textiles business are therefore at risk of redundancy.
 
The CCTV business has the potential to become a viable business or series of businesses and successfully move out of Government control. Remploy will now discuss with the 27 organisations who have let contracts to Remploy their intentions and the opportunity to market this business and its 27 contracts as a going concern. If the business can be sold it may result in potential TUPE transfers.  In the event that it cannot be sold compulsory redundancies will be made and all employees in the CCTV business are therefore at risk of redundancy.
 
In addition to Automotive Textiles, 3 other Remploy businesses are not commercially viable or have little realistic prospect of being sold as going concerns. These are E-Cycle (based at Porth and Heywood), Frontline Textiles (based at Dundee, Stirling and Clydebank) and Packaging (based at Norwich, Portsmouth, Burnley and Sunderland). These factories are now proposed for closure with all the staff working there and at the associated Business Offices at risk of redundancy
 
As a means of reducing the number of potential job losses Remploy will, from today commence a commercial process and invite expressions of interest from any individuals or organisations who would like to buy all or parts of these businesses or sites proposed for closure. They will also be inviting expressions of interest for the assets associated with these sites, although “going concern” business sales will take precedent over asset sales.
 
As a result of these proposals a total 875 employees including 682 disabled employees in the Automotive Textiles, E-Cycle, Frontline Textiles, Furniture, Marine textiles, Packaging and CCTV businesses are being placed at risk of compulsory redundancy.
 
If a successful sale or transfer of ownership is possible and such sale or transfer falls within the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), employees employed in or assigned to the relevant businesses will transfer to the new owner under TUPE. However, if TUPE does not apply, the number of employees who may transfer to the new business cannot be guaranteed as this will be a matter of negotiation between the bidder and Remploy.
 
It is important to note that no final decisions have been made about the factory closures or about redundancies in Stage 2 factories or businesses at this time.
 
I expect the process for exits or closures to have been completed by October 2013.
 
To encourage bids that maximise the continued employment of disabled people, the Department for Work and Pensions will offer a three year tapering wage subsidy totalling £6,400 for each eligible disabled member of staff. In addition Remploy will also fund professional advice and support worth up to £10,000 for employee led bids. This is in line with the offer of support in Stage 1.
 
Remploy’s Automotive business will continue to operate business as usual. There is no proposal to close this business at this stage.
 
Remploy Employment Services business will also continue to operate business as usual.
 
The Government has made £8 million available for 18 months to fund the delivery of a People Help and Support Package across the UK for any disabled individuals who are made redundant.  This tailored support from the People Help and Support Package includes access to a Personal Case Worker to help individuals with their future choices and a personal budget for additional support.
 
We will use the expertise of Remploy’s Employment Services which, despite difficult economic times over the last two years, has found jobs for around 50,000 disabled and disadvantaged people.
 
We are working with Remploy Employment Services, local and national employers, and the Business Disability Forum (BDF) to offer targeted work opportunities for disabled people. This could include guaranteed interviews, work trials, industry sector specific training, pre-application training (including mock interviews), on the job training and employer training in how to make adjustments for particular impairments.
 
We have also set up a Community Support Fund to provide grants to local voluntary sector and user-led organisations to run a variety of projects to support disabled Remploy employees and their families.
 
Of the 1,349 disabled people affected by the factory closures, 875 have expressed an interest in returning to work and are actively using the support package, so the latest results mean that just under 15% of those are now in work. It is one of our top priorities to maximise employment opportunities for the Remploy factory leavers.
 
This is an ongoing process, and as it develops, I commit to keeping this House updated on the status of the business plans going through to the next stage. I will provide a further update on progress in the New Year.

 

Written Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey on Remploy, 6th December 2012

Written Ministerial Statement

 Thursday 6 December 2012

THE DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Employment

The Minister for Disabled People (Ms Esther McVey MP):

I would like to make a statement on Remploy to update the House on the next steps in the reforms that my predecessor as Minister for Disabled People, the Rt Hon Member for Basingstoke, set out in this House on 10 July 2012.

The Remploy Board is today making make an announcement, and is quite rightly informing all those employees whom it affects.

The Remploy Board has now concluded its assessment of the Stage 2 businesses. It has been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and independent business analysts to explore in detail whether the remaining factory based businesses (Automotive, Automotive Textiles, E-Cycle, Frontline, Furniture, Marine and Packaging), CCTV contracts and Employment Services could viably exit government ownership and if so, how this could be best achieved.

Further work is being undertaken on Employment Services and a separate announcement will follow when a decision has been made.

The Government has decided to confirm the exit of Stage 2 factories and businesses, and the Remploy Board has today announced the results of its analysis and its proposals for a commercial process for stage 2 factory businesses and the CCTV business.

The Automotive business operating from factories in Coventry, Birmingham and Derby is considered by Remploy to be a viable business. It has the potential to successfully move out of Government funded support as a going concern. Remploy will now move to market this business , there is no proposal to close this business and staff at these sites are not formally at risk of redundancy.

The Automotive Textiles operation at Huddersfield is not commercially viable and the factory there is proposed for closure. All staff in this business are now at risk of redundancy.

The Furniture business based in Neath (Port Talbot), Sheffield and Blackburn has the potential to be commercially viable but would require significant restructuring consideration and downsizing of its operations. Remploy will market this business as a prospective going concern, while recognising that the current trading position of the business may ultimately result in no viable bids being received and that there may therefore be consequential redundancies and factory closures. All staff in this business are now at risk of redundancy.

The Marine Textiles business (based at Leven and Cowdenbeath) has an established market position and might attract commercial interest. Remploy Management will discuss any potential opportunities for a commercial exit with its current distributor and any other parties who express an interest. However the business currently makes significant losses and is not saleable currently as a going concern. The employees of the Marine Textiles business are therefore at risk of redundancy.

The CCTV business has the potential to become a viable business or series of businesses and successfully move out of Government control. Remploy will now discuss with the 27 organisations who have let contracts to Remploy their intentions and the opportunity to market this business and its 27 contracts as a going concern. If the business can be sold it may result in potential TUPE transfers. In the event that it cannot be sold compulsory redundancies will be made and all employees in the CCTV business are therefore at risk of redundancy.

In addition to Automotive Textiles, 3 other Remploy businesses are not commercially viable or have little realistic prospect of being sold as going concerns. These are E-Cycle (based at Porth and Heywood), Frontline Textiles (based at Dundee, Stirling and Clydebank) and Packaging (based at Norwich, Portsmouth, Burnley and Sunderland). These factories are now proposed for closure with all the staff working there and at the associated Business Offices at risk of redundancy.

As a means of reducing the number of potential job losses Remploy will, from today commence a commercial process and invite expressions of interest from any individuals or organisations who would like to buy all or parts of these businesses or sites proposed for closure. They will also be inviting expressions of interest for the assets associated with these sites, although “going concern” business sales will take precedent over asset sales. As a result of these proposals a total 875 employees including 682 disabled employees in the Automotive Textiles, E-Cycle, Frontline Textiles, Furniture, Marine textiles, Packaging and CCTV businesses are being placed at risk of compulsory redundancy.

If a successful sale or transfer of ownership is possible and such sale or transfer falls within the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), employees employed in or assigned to the relevant businesses will transfer to the new owner under TUPE. However, if TUPE does not apply, the number of employees who may transfer to the new business cannot be guaranteed as this will be a matter of negotiation between the bidder and Remploy.

It is important to note that no final decisions have been made about the factory closures or about redundancies in Stage 2 factories or businesses at this time.

I expect the process for exits or closures to have been completed by October 2013.

To encourage bids that maximise the continued employment of disabled people, the Department for Work and Pensions will offer a three year tapering wage subsidy totalling £6,400 for each eligible disabled member of staff. In addition Remploy will also fund professional advice and support worth up to £10,000 for employee led bids. This is in line with the offer of support in Stage 1.

Remploy’s Automotive business will continue to operate business as usual. There is no proposal to close this business at this stage.

Remploy Employment Services business will also continue to operate business as usual.

The Government has made £8 million available for 18 months to fund the delivery of a People Help and Support Package across the UK for any disabled individuals who are made redundant. This tailored support from the People Help and Support Package includes access to a Personal Case Worker to help individuals with their future choices and a personal budget for additional support.

We will use the expertise of Remploy’s Employment Services which, despite difficult economic times over the last two years, has found jobs for around 50,000 disabled and disadvantaged people.

We are working with Remploy Employment Services, local and national employers, and the Business Disability Forum (BDF) to offer targeted work opportunities for disabled people. This could include guaranteed interviews, work trials, industry sector specific training, pre-application training (including mock interviews), on the job training and employer training in how to make adjustments for particular impairments. We have also set up a Community Support Fund to provide grants to local voluntary sector and user-led organisations to run a variety of projects to support disabled Remploy employees and their families.

Of the 1,349 disabled people affected by the factory closures, 875 have expressed an interest in returning to work and are actively using the support package, so the latest results mean that just under 15% of those are now in work. It is one of our top priorities to maximise employment opportunities for the Remploy factory leavers.

This is an ongoing process, and as it develops, I commit to keeping this House updated on the status of the business plans going through to the next stage. I will provide a further update on progress in the New Year.

 

Harrington’s review of the Work Capability Assessment is devastating

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, in response to today’s publication of the Harrington Review, said:

“Professor Harrington’s review is devastating – progress is slow and incomplete, Ministers are failing to grip the shambolic appeals system, and the whole process is utterly failing to get people back into work.

“This damning report completely vindicates Labour’s call for fast and fundamental reform of the Work Capability Assessment. Ministers must now stop dragging their feet and take the urgent action we have been calling for.”

Ends

Editor’s notes:
1. A copy of the report can be found here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-review-2012.pdf
2. Key findings from Harrington Review:
Slams slow overall progress:

“A number of the major charities in this year’s call for evidence say that although they have seen some change for the better, it is disappointingly incomplete in coverage and depth. I agree with them.”

Pg 6

Criticises the pace of reforming the test:

“So far as the descriptors are concerned, progress has been positive but slow.” …”The evidence-based review has unfortunately taken longer to develop than is ideal.”

Pgs 6, 39

Warns government has no grip on embattled appeals process:

“The appeals process remains an area of considerable concern for the Review. The First-tier Tribunal President opines that this is outside the remit of the Review. The Review disagrees. Appeals are a fundamental part of the overall WCA process.”

Pg 27

Warns government has no grip on Atos:

“Whilst Atos have developed an impressive list of training materials for their healthcare professionals and their trainers, the Review has seen little evidence to show the effectiveness of these courses in either driving up the quality of assessments or improving the skills and knowledge base of the  attendees.”

Pg 45

After conducting unannounced visits to  Benefit Delivery Centres and Atos Assessment Centres Harrington concludes that “progress has been slower than hoped for and the scope and depth of these changes is less than desirable.”

Pg 33

Confirms chaos in Work Programme:

“Only 9 per cent of people in the Work Related Activity Group were in employment 12–18 months after their claim.”

“Employment outcomes for ESA claimants remain considerably poorer than for those for new Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants with one quarter of ESA claimants entering jobs within 12–18 months, against around three quarters leaving the jobseeker’s register within six months.”

Pg 36

 

Atos revelations raise extremely serious questions over the £540m PIP contracts

The latest claims surrounding the IT firm Atos raise extremely serious questions over the £540m PIP contracts. There is now clear evidence that Atos won a £400m contract with a bid that was misleading.

There must be an immediate investigation because the integrity of the entire process is now in serious doubt. Ministers must now explain exactly how these claims got through unchecked.

Details of the revelations are available here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/01/atos-disability-tests-contract-labour

 

Hardest Hit report is fresh evidence that Labour is right to call for fast and fundamental reform of the Work Capability Assessment

On the recently published Hardest Hit report, “The Tipping Point”, Labour’s Liam Byrne said:

“This report lays bare the divided nation that David Cameron  is creating. The government is creating a climate of pure fear amongst disabled people who are now set to lose more than David Cameron is taking off the banks. Today’s research is fresh evidence that Labour’s call for fast and fundamental reform of the Work Capability Assessment is right. What disabled people need is a team behind them not a bureaucracy against them.”

The Hardest Hit Report, “The Tipping Point: the human and economic costs of cutting disabled people’s support”, can be found here.

 

Today’s report is another nail in the coffin for Cameron’s claims we’re all in this together. Disabled people and their families are being left to pick up the tab for this govt’s failings

 

Responding to a report supported by The Children’s Society, Citizens Advice and Disability Right UK stating Half a million disabled people could lose out under Universal Credit, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne said,

 

“This report is another nail in the coffin for David Cameron’s claims we are all in this together. The PM tried to hide it in the Commons, but this report lays bare the truth that he is snatching up to £1,400 from 100,000 disabled children yet offering a huge tax cut to millionaires.

“Disabled people and their families are being forced to pick up the tab for the government’s shambolic mismanagement of our economy.”

Ends

 

Notes

 

  • DAVID CAMERON – Disabled benefits for children

    PMQs
    Wednesday 14th December 2011
    Speakers                David Cameron
                                 Anne McGuire
                             
    AMG:                  Earlier this week in the other place the coalition government watered down a proposal to protect the benefits of disabled children by a majority of two. Can I ask the Prime Minister that by reducing benefits for disabled children by over £1300 a year is something that identifies his often repeated mantra that we are all in this together?

    DC:                 Well first of all we are not cutting benefits for disabled children and actually we are up rating by 5.2% all of those benefits so that people will see an increase in the benefits that they receive next year.