Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Fletcher Excerpts

Monday 9th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

I am afraid that the hon. and learned Lady is wrong. I will quote from the Marmot review, which says on page 13 that

“Increases in life expectancy have slowed since 2010”,

but then adds at page 15 that

“Life expectancy at birth has been increasing since the beginning of the 20th century.”

[Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con)]

13. What steps she is taking to reduce the number of assessments undertaken by claimants with disabilities.

[Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con)]

21. What steps she is taking to reduce the number of assessments undertaken by claimants with disabilities.

[The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson)]

As our manifesto set out, we are committed to reducing the number of assessments that disabled people face. That will build on improvements already made, including reducing the frequency of assessments for those with severe or progressive conditions and removing regular reviews for PIP claimants over pension age.

[Mark Fletcher]

I thank the Minister for his response. A number of constituents with severe conditions that are not reasonably expected to improve have contacted me with concerns about the current process. What reassurance can he give my constituents that their predicament will be given consideration as part of any future changes that the Department makes?

[Justin Tomlinson]

In the coming months, we will launch a Green Paper that will look at claimants’ experience, trust in the process and allowing claimants to lead full and independent lives. We will be doing a full review, working with stakeholders, claimants and charities to identify further areas of improvement on top of what we have already done.