UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Steve Double Excerpts
Wednesday 20th June 2018

(5 years, 10 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Fiona Onasanya Portrait Fiona Onasanya
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Sorry, Dame Cheryl, I realise that time is short, so I will be quick. I have not been to a work capability assessment, but one of the people I work with who was a barrister goes to many assessments to advocate on behalf of disabled people, because the assessments are not very clear and the way in which questions are asked can be quite misleading. That is how I was able to give the analogy about the distance in metres.

Steve Double Portrait Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)
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The hon. Lady is making a good speech with many good points. I believe the Government have been listening, and the Minister is very much aware of some of the shortcomings in the assessment process and has worked incredibly hard to try to rectify them. Is she willing to acknowledge that the Government have listened to the concern of Members across the House and improvements are being made to the process?

Fiona Onasanya Portrait Fiona Onasanya
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No, I do not agree. The Government are hearing, but they are absolutely not listening. If they were listening, they would implement the recommendations.