Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that the Fit for Work service can be offered to people who are (a) on long-term sick leave and (b) otherwise in employment.

There are two elements to Fit for Work. Once an employee has reached, or is expected to reach, four weeks of sickness absence they will normally be referred by their GP for an assessment to look at all the issues preventing the employee from returning to work.

Fit for Work will also offer work-related health advice, through a dedicated website and telephone line, to all GP’s, employers and employees across Great Britain.