Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of work capability assessments for people with inflammatory bowel disease; and if she will make a statement.

The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) assesses the impact of a person’s disability or health conditions on their functional ability. The activities and descriptors used in the assessment were developed in consultation with medical experts and representative groups to ensure that they are appropriate for all conditions. As such, all healthcare professionals who conduct WCAs have access to learning modules on a wide range of health conditions, including one on gastrointestinal disorders and bowel incontinence, including a section on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, that has been quality assured by a consultant gastroenterologist.