Personal Independence Payments
Debate between Laura Smith and Stewart Hosie(6 years, 2 months ago)
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Laura Smith
I am sorry, but I must get through my speech; I am conscious of the time.
George was assessed by Atos on 1 June 2017. He is now going through the process of appeal, but the timescale is being put further and further back and he still does not have a date for his case to be heard. He is struggling to survive financially, and he has said that he is feeling more depressed every day and having sleepless nights. He has stated—this is the important bit, to me—that if it were not for his wife, he would feel as though he could not go on any more, and he has contemplated not taking the medication that he needs. The way in which he and many, many others in my constituency have been treated is absolutely diabolical. I urge the Government seriously to stop burying their head in the sand and face up to the reality that has been created by their own policies.
Stewart Hosie (in the Chair)
I intend the summing-up speeches to start after the next speech, so if anyone wants to make a last intervention, they know what to do.