Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Oral Answers to Questions

Marsha De Cordova Excerpts
Monday 18th March 2024

(8 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Marsha De Cordova Portrait Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)
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Data in responses to my written questions on PIP appeals shows that more than 50,000 ill or disabled people had their appeals upheld at tribunal without the need for new evidence. Given that the UK Government will be examined today by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities following its 2016 special inquiry that found that the threshold had been met for grave and systematic violations, is it not time to replace the flawed and outdated PIP system with a framework that is fit for purpose?

Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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Of course, we always keep all benefits under review at the Department, including PIP and the assessment processes. As the hon. Lady points out, there is rightly an appeals process for those who are not happy with the conclusions of those assessments. We keep those under review, and I can reassure her that they represent a relatively small proportion of the total number of applications.