Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the availability of recording devices for benefits assessments on the (a) quality and (b) timeliness of those assessments.

Every person who is required to attend a Work Capability Assessment can ask to have their face-to-face assessment audio recorded. Where the request is made in advance the requirement will be met. Requests made on the day will be met where possible and the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments reviews the demand to ensure there is sufficient audio recording equipment. Personal Independence Payment claimants who wish to have their assessment recorded have the right to do so but they must provide the recording equipment.

The Government’s response to recommendation 4b of Paul Gray’s second independent review of the Personal Independence Payment assessment (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668621/pip-assessment-second-independent-review-government-response.pdf) set out our assessment of a trial of audio recording assessments

DWP also recently commenced a video recording pilot for claimants with Personal Independence Payment face-to-face assessments. The pilot enables us to test communications products and live testing of video recording, providing that claimants elect to participate. Findings from the pilot will inform views on rolling out video recording more widely, in order to promote greater trust and transparency.

DWP will continue to keep the recording of assessments policy under review.