All 1 Debates between Mike Penning and Anne Marie Morris

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mike Penning and Anne Marie Morris
Monday 24th February 2014

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mike Penning Portrait The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Mike Penning)
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Although we have seen some improvements in Atos quality, we are still in ongoing commercial discussions. Unlike Atos, we respect the commercial confidentiality of those discussions. It is important to get the procurement right. The previous Administration did not share that view, which is why we are in this mess today.

Anne Marie Morris Portrait Anne Marie Morris
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Will the Minister inform the House of what steps he is taking to address the significant backlog that has been created by the delays in claimants receiving their work capability assessments? In my constituency, individuals say that they have been waiting for up to six months, which has a real impact on their financial circumstances.

Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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The issues to do with the work capability assessment and the unacceptable backlog that Atos has built up over the years are due to capacity and quality. The quality, which was very poor earlier on, has been improved. That means that there is now a huge backlog, which is why we are currently in negotiations with Atos.