Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of recording all personal independence payment assessments.

On 13 March a small-scale pilot started to test whether there are any benefits to audio recording Personal Independence Payment (PIP) face-to-face assessments. Once the results of this pilot have been processed and evaluated, we will be able to make further decisions on whether DWP will consider recording further assessments in the future. We have always made clear that we are continuously looking to identify opportunities to improve the entire PIP claim process. This small-scale pilot is entirely voluntary and all recordings will be subject to claimant consent.

There is an existing process for those who wish to record their assessments which is publicised on the websites of both assessment providers and this pilot does not affect the existing arrangements. Claimants can continue to record their PIP assessment using their own equipment, provided it meets the requirements as set out by DWP. Once the results of this trial have been processed and evaluated, we will be able to make further decisions on whether DWP will consider further recording of assessments in the future.