Reference : Extract from article by John Pring at www.disbailitynewsservice.com
MPs launch new inquiry into DLA reforms
03/08/2011
A new inquiry into plans to reform Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is set to increase pressure on the government to describe the true impact on disabled people of its controversial proposals.
The inquiry will be carried out by the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, which is chaired by the disabled Labour MP, Dame Anne Begg. It will investigate the implications of the governments plans to replace DLA with a new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and to cut spending by 20%.
The Committee will also examine the impact of the governments pledge to focus financial support on those with higher needs, and it will probe how disabled PIP claimants will be assessed and which organisation is likely to carry out those assessments for the government.
The inquiry will also ask whether there are lessons to be learned from Professor Malcolm Harringtons review of the much-criticised Work Capability Assessment (WCA), the new test for out-of-work disability benefits.
In April, the government published its response to a consultation on the DLA reforms, which had drawn more than 5,500 responses many of them highly critical but the Department for Work and Pensions has been unable to name a single change it made to the reforms as a result of the consultation.
The Work and Pensions Committee will accept written evidence for its inquiry until 2 September 2011. For more information, see www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/dla/
Work capability Assessment Second Independent Review
Meanwhile, Professor Harrington has issued a call for evidence as part of his second independent review of the WCA. He said he was particularly interested in evidence about how the recommendations of his first review were being implemented and what impact they were having, as well as what further work was needed in future reviews.
He is also keen to hear evidence about the face-to-face assessments carried out by Atos Healthcare on behalf of the government. The deadline for submissions is 16 September.
For more information, see www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/wca-call-for-evidence.shtml