Oral Answers to Questions

Christian Matheson Excerpts

Monday 8th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I just want to reassure the Secretary of State that that was never the intention of the question.

[Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab) [V]]

Too many of my constituents on assessed benefits —ESA and personal independence payment—find that the reports from their assessments bear no relation to what was discussed in the interview. What measures will Ministers put in place to ensure that accuracy and honesty are carried through in those assessments so that we do not see huge numbers of those decisions overturned on appeal, which is happening at the moment?

[Justin Tomlinson]

Although the vast majority of people who access their benefits get the outcome they were hoping for, we recognise the need for continuous improvements, which we make working hand in hand with health and disability charities, organisation users and frontline staff. In the forthcoming health and disability Green Paper, we will look at the specific themes of evidence, advocacy, assessment and the appeals system to ensure we continue to deliver those improvements.