Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to ensure higher standards of service and stricter key performance indicators to improve performance when the contract for work capability assessments is up for renewal in 2018.

The contract for the delivery of Work Capability Assessments expires in February 2020. As part of the two year extension agreement, we have agreed higher standards of service and improved Key Performance Indicators.

During the remaining term of our current contract both the Department and our supplier will continue its drive for continuous contractual performance improvement and even higher standards. We will review our future requirements as part of our preparations for re-contracting.