Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of Midlife MOTs were delivered (1) online, and (2) in person, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has published management information on the number of claimants referred to and who attended the Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group sessions since the launch of the policy in January 2023 to June 2025. See “Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT Group Sessions, January 2023 to June 2025”. Table 1 below provides a yearly breakdown of these figures. Providing data beyond June 2025 would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 1 – Number of referrals and attendees to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions
| Number referred | Number attended |
2023 | 10,878 | 7,850 |
2024 | 46,841 | 36,785 |
2025 (Jan-June) | 110,156 | 82,220 |
Table 2 below shows an age breakdown of the volumes of individuals referred to and who attended a JCP Midlife MOT group session during January 2023 to June 2025. Providing data beyond June 2025 and by individual year would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 2 Age group breakdown of referrals and starts to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions, January 2023 to June 25
Age | Referrals | Attended |
50-54 | 23,439 | 16,722 |
55-59 | 26,546 | 19,934 |
60-65 | 26,675 | 20,788 |
65 plus | 8,482 | 6,661 |
The DWP Midlife MOT website and the JCP Midlife MOT group sessions cover similar topics but are not directly comparable in terms of content. Figures for the two policies are as follows. From January 2024 to June 2025 there have been 85,142 individuals referred to and 64,105 individuals who have attended a Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group session.
Figures for the number of visitors to the DWP Midlife MoT website have been published as part of the evaluation of the DWP Midlife MoT website, see “Evaluation evidence from policies aimed at claimants aged 50 plus”. This report provides figures from Nov 2023 to March 2026. During this period the website was accessed by users 59,968 times by a total of 38,554 individuals. The evaluation did not collect any data on whether visits to the DWP Midlife MOT website influenced users’ behaviour. Providing further data on the JCP Midlife MoT group sessions and the DWP Midlife MoT website would exceed the costs limits for answering Parliamentary Questions.
DWP has published an evaluation of the Private Sector Midlife MOT scheme. See “Private Sector Midlife MOT Pilots qualitative research interim findings”. Low employer and participant uptake resulted in the pilots concluding early.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals have received Midlife MOTs, broken down by age, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has published management information on the number of claimants referred to and who attended the Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group sessions since the launch of the policy in January 2023 to June 2025. See “Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT Group Sessions, January 2023 to June 2025”. Table 1 below provides a yearly breakdown of these figures. Providing data beyond June 2025 would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 1 – Number of referrals and attendees to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions
| Number referred | Number attended |
2023 | 10,878 | 7,850 |
2024 | 46,841 | 36,785 |
2025 (Jan-June) | 110,156 | 82,220 |
Table 2 below shows an age breakdown of the volumes of individuals referred to and who attended a JCP Midlife MOT group session during January 2023 to June 2025. Providing data beyond June 2025 and by individual year would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 2 Age group breakdown of referrals and starts to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions, January 2023 to June 25
Age | Referrals | Attended |
50-54 | 23,439 | 16,722 |
55-59 | 26,546 | 19,934 |
60-65 | 26,675 | 20,788 |
65 plus | 8,482 | 6,661 |
The DWP Midlife MOT website and the JCP Midlife MOT group sessions cover similar topics but are not directly comparable in terms of content. Figures for the two policies are as follows. From January 2024 to June 2025 there have been 85,142 individuals referred to and 64,105 individuals who have attended a Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group session.
Figures for the number of visitors to the DWP Midlife MoT website have been published as part of the evaluation of the DWP Midlife MoT website, see “Evaluation evidence from policies aimed at claimants aged 50 plus”. This report provides figures from Nov 2023 to March 2026. During this period the website was accessed by users 59,968 times by a total of 38,554 individuals. The evaluation did not collect any data on whether visits to the DWP Midlife MOT website influenced users’ behaviour. Providing further data on the JCP Midlife MoT group sessions and the DWP Midlife MoT website would exceed the costs limits for answering Parliamentary Questions.
DWP has published an evaluation of the Private Sector Midlife MOT scheme. See “Private Sector Midlife MOT Pilots qualitative research interim findings”. Low employer and participant uptake resulted in the pilots concluding early.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Midlife MOTs were delivered annually in the each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has published management information on the number of claimants referred to and who attended the Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group sessions since the launch of the policy in January 2023 to June 2025. See “Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT Group Sessions, January 2023 to June 2025”. Table 1 below provides a yearly breakdown of these figures. Providing data beyond June 2025 would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 1 – Number of referrals and attendees to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions
| Number referred | Number attended |
2023 | 10,878 | 7,850 |
2024 | 46,841 | 36,785 |
2025 (Jan-June) | 110,156 | 82,220 |
Table 2 below shows an age breakdown of the volumes of individuals referred to and who attended a JCP Midlife MOT group session during January 2023 to June 2025. Providing data beyond June 2025 and by individual year would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 2 Age group breakdown of referrals and starts to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions, January 2023 to June 25
Age | Referrals | Attended |
50-54 | 23,439 | 16,722 |
55-59 | 26,546 | 19,934 |
60-65 | 26,675 | 20,788 |
65 plus | 8,482 | 6,661 |
The DWP Midlife MOT website and the JCP Midlife MOT group sessions cover similar topics but are not directly comparable in terms of content. Figures for the two policies are as follows. From January 2024 to June 2025 there have been 85,142 individuals referred to and 64,105 individuals who have attended a Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group session.
Figures for the number of visitors to the DWP Midlife MoT website have been published as part of the evaluation of the DWP Midlife MoT website, see “Evaluation evidence from policies aimed at claimants aged 50 plus”. This report provides figures from Nov 2023 to March 2026. During this period the website was accessed by users 59,968 times by a total of 38,554 individuals. The evaluation did not collect any data on whether visits to the DWP Midlife MOT website influenced users’ behaviour. Providing further data on the JCP Midlife MoT group sessions and the DWP Midlife MoT website would exceed the costs limits for answering Parliamentary Questions.
DWP has published an evaluation of the Private Sector Midlife MOT scheme. See “Private Sector Midlife MOT Pilots qualitative research interim findings”. Low employer and participant uptake resulted in the pilots concluding early.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support older adults to gain the numerical and financial literacy skills to manage their finances ahead of and during retirement.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises the importance of ensuring that people have the skills, knowledge and support necessary to manage their finances effectively and offers a range of initiatives to help individuals prepare ahead of and during retirement.
Adults in England can access funded Essential Skills provision, including numeracy courses, to help them develop practical maths skills for everyday life, including budgeting and managing household finances.
For those receiving benefits, work coaches can refer customers with numeracy skills gaps to appropriate training. In addition, Midlife MOTs delivered in Jobcentres help people aged over 50 on Universal Credit review their finances, skills and health, and signpost them to suitable support. A digital Midlife MOT is also available to everyone.
The government also supports financial capability through the Money and Pensions Service. Its MoneyHelper service provides free and impartial money and pensions guidance, budgeting tools and calculators, while Pension Wise offers free guidance appointments to people aged 50 and over to help them understand their pension options and make informed decisions about retirement.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the private sector Midlife MOT pilot scheme delivered in the North East of England, Cornwall and Devon, and East Anglia.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has published management information on the number of claimants referred to and who attended the Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group sessions since the launch of the policy in January 2023 to June 2025. See “Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT Group Sessions, January 2023 to June 2025”. Table 1 below provides a yearly breakdown of these figures. Providing data beyond June 2025 would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 1 – Number of referrals and attendees to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions
| Number referred | Number attended |
2023 | 10,878 | 7,850 |
2024 | 46,841 | 36,785 |
2025 (Jan-June) | 110,156 | 82,220 |
Table 2 below shows an age breakdown of the volumes of individuals referred to and who attended a JCP Midlife MOT group session during January 2023 to June 2025. Providing data beyond June 2025 and by individual year would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 2 Age group breakdown of referrals and starts to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions, January 2023 to June 25
Age | Referrals | Attended |
50-54 | 23,439 | 16,722 |
55-59 | 26,546 | 19,934 |
60-65 | 26,675 | 20,788 |
65 plus | 8,482 | 6,661 |
The DWP Midlife MOT website and the JCP Midlife MOT group sessions cover similar topics but are not directly comparable in terms of content. Figures for the two policies are as follows. From January 2024 to June 2025 there have been 85,142 individuals referred to and 64,105 individuals who have attended a Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group session.
Figures for the number of visitors to the DWP Midlife MoT website have been published as part of the evaluation of the DWP Midlife MoT website, see “Evaluation evidence from policies aimed at claimants aged 50 plus”. This report provides figures from Nov 2023 to March 2026. During this period the website was accessed by users 59,968 times by a total of 38,554 individuals. The evaluation did not collect any data on whether visits to the DWP Midlife MOT website influenced users’ behaviour. Providing further data on the JCP Midlife MoT group sessions and the DWP Midlife MoT website would exceed the costs limits for answering Parliamentary Questions.
DWP has published an evaluation of the Private Sector Midlife MOT scheme. See “Private Sector Midlife MOT Pilots qualitative research interim findings”. Low employer and participant uptake resulted in the pilots concluding early.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reach and impact of the Digital Midlife MOT website.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has published management information on the number of claimants referred to and who attended the Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group sessions since the launch of the policy in January 2023 to June 2025. See “Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT Group Sessions, January 2023 to June 2025”. Table 1 below provides a yearly breakdown of these figures. Providing data beyond June 2025 would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 1 – Number of referrals and attendees to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions
| Number referred | Number attended |
2023 | 10,878 | 7,850 |
2024 | 46,841 | 36,785 |
2025 (Jan-June) | 110,156 | 82,220 |
Table 2 below shows an age breakdown of the volumes of individuals referred to and who attended a JCP Midlife MOT group session during January 2023 to June 2025. Providing data beyond June 2025 and by individual year would exceed the cost limits in answering Parliamentary Questions.
Table 2 Age group breakdown of referrals and starts to JCP Midlife MoT group sessions, January 2023 to June 25
Age | Referrals | Attended |
50-54 | 23,439 | 16,722 |
55-59 | 26,546 | 19,934 |
60-65 | 26,675 | 20,788 |
65 plus | 8,482 | 6,661 |
The DWP Midlife MOT website and the JCP Midlife MOT group sessions cover similar topics but are not directly comparable in terms of content. Figures for the two policies are as follows. From January 2024 to June 2025 there have been 85,142 individuals referred to and 64,105 individuals who have attended a Jobcentre Plus Midlife MoT group session.
Figures for the number of visitors to the DWP Midlife MoT website have been published as part of the evaluation of the DWP Midlife MoT website, see “Evaluation evidence from policies aimed at claimants aged 50 plus”. This report provides figures from Nov 2023 to March 2026. During this period the website was accessed by users 59,968 times by a total of 38,554 individuals. The evaluation did not collect any data on whether visits to the DWP Midlife MOT website influenced users’ behaviour. Providing further data on the JCP Midlife MoT group sessions and the DWP Midlife MoT website would exceed the costs limits for answering Parliamentary Questions.
DWP has published an evaluation of the Private Sector Midlife MOT scheme. See “Private Sector Midlife MOT Pilots qualitative research interim findings”. Low employer and participant uptake resulted in the pilots concluding early.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 19 January (HL13274), whether they have now responded to the recommendations from the Keep Britain Working Review regarding the fit note; what further reforms to the fit note system they plan beyond the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund pilots; and when they expect to publish those plans.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 20th May 2026, the Government announced that it would test reform of the fit note, beginning with pilots across four integrated care boards in England. These pilots are funded by £3m in the first year and will take place within a small number of GP surgeries across the following areas: Birmingham and Solihull, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Coventry and Warwickshire, and Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The pilots will explore replacing the traditional GP-led fit note process with newly designed plans that provide better support to people who fall ill at work. They aim to move from a process of administrative sickness certification to a new service focussed on getting people the support they need to stay in work and sustainably return.
Whilst specific elements of pilot design are to be shaped locally, broadly, the pilots will test:
The pilots have been designed through close engagement with GP leaders and the health system. We are also working with employer and patient groups to shape design as pilots progress. Within all four pilots, teams will be able to sign people off work who need time to recover from their illness. The pilots are focussed on the in-work population (either those who are at risk of falling out of work due to illness or those who are already signed off sick). Participation will be voluntary, and the pilots will not determine eligibility for any benefit entitlement or replace the Work Capability Assessment. Any future rollout or legislative reform will be informed by learnings from the pilots.
The fit note pilots are a key element of the Government's response to the recommendations made in the Keep Britain Working Review, published in November 2025. The Review was clear that the fit note is 'not working as intended', and called for the Government to test alternatives and replacements to the fit note. Any long-term system reform is expected to combine employer and state funded provision, balancing the engagement benefits of employer-led support with the necessity for non-workplace provision (for example, for those who leave work due to illness). We are working closely with the Keep Britain Working Vanguards as they test the 'best case' for an employer-led intervention, with the NHS-based pilots running in parallel, and learnings from each model being used to inform future reform.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Sherlock on 19 January (HL13272 and HL13273), whether information on the shape and remit of the Vanguard Taskforce and the Workplace Health Intelligence Unit has now been confirmed; what the terms of reference and membership of the Vanguard Taskforce are; and what the remit, governance arrangements, and operational timetable of the Workplace Health Intelligence Unit are.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Work is progressing at pace on the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Phase following publication of the review’s final report in November. Led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, Co-Chair of the Vanguard Phase, we have been working closely with Vanguard employers, regions and stakeholders to mobilise the Vanguard Phase.
As part of this, a Vanguard Taskforce/ Advisory Group has now been established and is chaired by Sir Charlie Mayfield, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business and Trade. The Taskforce brings together external experts from across business, trade unions, health, and disability and inclusion fields; full membership has been published as part of the Keep Britain Working March update, on Gov.uk (Annex B).
The Taskforce is an external advisory body. It provides independent advice, insight and constructive challenge to support delivery of the Vanguard Phase, including testing and refining emerging proposals and advising on the feasibility and impact of workplace health interventions. It has no decision-making powers, with policy decisions remaining with Ministers. The full terms of reference will be published on Gov.uk in due course.
We are making progress on setting up the Workplace Health Intelligence Unit (WHIU). During the Vanguard Phase we are working with employers, experts and partners to design the Unit’s functions and operating model, including how it can best act as a central hub for evidence, insight and employer-facing support. This includes considering its governance arrangements and how it will work across Government to maximise impact. Further detail on the Unit will be set out in due course as this design work progresses.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons why the number of child recipients of the Disability Living Allowance is increasing.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There have been steady increases over the last two decades in the number of children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLAc), from 230,000 in May 2002 to 840,000 in May 2025, excluding Scotland claims. These increases are driven primarily by increases in the number of claimants with learning difficulties (including Autism Spectrum Disorder), hyperkinetic syndrome (including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and behavioural disorders which have increased from 48% of the caseload in May 2002 to 83% in May 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what pilots are currently underway to test reforms to the fit note system, including the locations and duration of those pilots, and the groups of patients and employers involved; what further reforms to the fit note system they are planning, beyond the current pilots; and when they expect to publish further details.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 11th July 2025, we announced a WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, which offered a portion of £1.5 million of single year funding to each of the fifteen WorkWell pilot sites to test innovative approaches to the fit note within primary care.
The funding is supporting local areas to boost capacity in primary care to provide better work and health support via the fit note process, with the longer term aims of reducing pressure on GPs and improving patients’ work and health outcomes.
Each of the 15 WorkWell Integrated Care Boards has received up to £100,000, with interventions running from October 2025 to March 2026. The locations of the sites are:
Birmingham and Solihull,
Black Country,
Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG),
Cambridgeshire,
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly,
Coventry,
Frimley,
Greater Manchester,
Herefordshire,
Lancashire and South Cumbria,
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR),
North Central London,
North West London,
South Yorkshire, and
Surrey Heartlands.
One of the key aims of the funding is to build the evidence base for how the fit note process within primary care can be improved, and findings will inform future policy development. Most sites are using the funding to test new or additional roles within Primary Care Networks, including social prescribers, work and health coaches, or physiotherapists, to either issue the fit note instead of the GP or provide wraparound work and health support to the fit note recipient.
However, we know that we need to go further. The Keep Britain Working Review was clear that the fit note is ‘not working as intended’ and recommended that we test alternative approaches to the fit note, working with GPs and health services to explore improvements and replacements. We are currently considering how to respond to the Review’s recommendations on the fit note, and we will bring forward more information in due course.