Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of health capability assessments for claimants of employment and support allowance with (a) mental health issues and (b) learning difficulties.

Strict audit and quality control measures are in place to ensure the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments delivers high-quality assessments.

The Department introduced the independent audit of Work Capability Assessments in March 2015 in line with the start of the new Health and Disability Assessment Service contract. Audit has a central role in confirming that independent health professional advice complies with the required standards and that it is clear and medically reasonable. It also provides assurance that any approach to assessment and opinion given is consistent so that, irrespective of where or by whom the assessment is carried out, claimants with conditions that have the same functional effect will ultimately receive the same benefit outcome.

Health Professionals receive training on how to identify the impact of mental health conditions on claimants. This is followed by on-going professional training and support which continues for the duration of their employment in the role.

Providers are required to make every attempt to obtain the best evidence available to assist the Health Professional undertaking the assessment to make a fully formed judgment. This includes evidence from Community Mental Health Teams, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers supporting claimants with mental health conditions.