Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training is required for staff making decisions on eligibility for industrial injuries disablement benefits.

The Department always aims to make the right decision as early as possible, and all staff making decisions on eligibility for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) receive appropriate training in line with this aim. This includes standardised training packages targeted at certain decision-making staff, and new staff sitting with experienced decision makers for an initial period, to observe the process for a range of different possible decisions. Further standardised training packages are also being developed.

Detailed decision making guidance for IIDB is also made available to all decision makers. The Department publishes its “Decision Makers’ Guides” on GOV.UK, and the relevant materials for IIDB are available here.