Personal Independence Payment: South East

Mike Penning Excerpts

Tuesday 10th December 2013 Ministerial Corrections

[Fiona Mactaggart]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of the 21 personal independence payment consultation centres serving South and East England cannot be reached within (a) 90 minutes and (b) 60 minutes by public transport from all parts of their catchment area.

[Official Report, 18 November 2013, Vol. 570, c. 677W.]

Letter of correction from Mike Penning:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 18 November 2013.

The full answer given was as follows:

[Mike Penning]

No claimant should travel more than 90 minutes (single journey) by public transport, for their consultation. As part of the process Atos, as the assessment provider in the south and east of England, will offer an assessment at their nearest location and it is only when that location is full would claimants be sent to an alternative site. As part of their bid, Atos stated that 75-90% of claimants will have no journey longer than 60 minutes. In the exceptional circumstance where a claimant is unable to make a journey within 90 minutes via public transport Atos will offer either a home visit or the ability to use a taxi.

The correct answer should have been:

[Mike Penning]

No claimant should travel more than 90 minutes (single journey) by public transport, for their consultation. As part of the process Atos, as the assessment provider in the south and east of England, will offer an assessment at their nearest location and it is only when that location is full would claimants be sent to an alternative site. As part of their bid, Atos stated that 75-90% of claimants will have no journey longer than 30 minutes. In the exceptional circumstance where a claimant is unable to make a journey within 90 minutes via public transport Atos will offer either a home visit or the ability to use a taxi.