Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Prime Minister’s speech on welfare of 19 April 2024, what the evidential basis is for the statement that people with less severe mental health conditions should be expected to engage with the world of work.

Evidence shows that good work is generally good for health¹. The Government therefore has an ambitious programme of initiatives to support people with mental health conditions, who are able, to start, stay and succeed in work. This includes:

• Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies, which combines psychological treatment and employment support for people with mental health conditions;
• The Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care programme, a Supported Employment model (place, train and maintain) delivered in health settings, aimed at people with physical or common mental health disabilities to support them to access paid jobs in the open labour market; and
• WorkWell, which is being established as a new early-intervention work and health support and assessment service in England, with the aim of preventing and reducing economic inactivity among disabled people and people with health conditions.

¹ Is work good for your health and well-being? An independent review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)