Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the written ministerial statement by the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work of 20 November 2023, HCWS44, which 13 areas have been chosen as test sites for the Employment and Health Discussion.

The Employment and Health Discussion (EHD) is a voluntary service available to claimants with a disability and/or long-term health condition and is a discussion with a claimant about their health situation, any barriers it presents in moving towards work, and how to overcome them. It is not part of the assessment process and takes place before the Work Capability Assessment.

In addition to the medical qualifications that the Employment and Health Practitioners hold, the DWP has provided specific theory and practical EHD training sessions, alongside mandatory DWP training, for example, data protection, security and Universal Credit. The EHD was first piloted from Leeds Health Model Office in 2022, and has been expanded to Aberdare, Bradford, Chelmsford, Doncaster, Durham, Hull, Lancaster, Newcastle, Norwich, Sunderland, Wigan and York.