Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 68 of the Government's report, Improving Lives: The Future of health, Work and Disability, published in November 2017, Cm 9526, if he will consult with disabled people (a) on the proposed changes to the work and capability assessment and (b) on those proposed changes ahead of the publication of the Government's proposed consultation on statutory sick pay.

In the Improving Lives: The Future of health, Work and Disability command paper we committed to work with external stakeholders to inform future changes to the Work Capability Assessment.

We are taking forward policy development to create a statutory sick pay system which supports more flexible working, for example to support phased returns to work. We will bring forward a consultation on these changes, as well as any other SSP changes we identify in our wider work. As part of this consultation we will seek views from a range of people and organisations, including disabled people.