Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of her Department's ability to undertake (a) work capability and (b) disability assessments remotely.

We are closely monitoring all new assessment processes to ensure they are working well for those claiming health and disability benefits, as well as providing the right level of information to allow claims to be assessed.

The department’s priority is ensuring people get their benefit payments and that we can continue to support those who need us most. We are working with all our Assessment Providers to ensure we do not place people claiming health and disability benefits at unnecessary risk. As a temporary measure, this has included suspending face-to-face assessments and introducing telephone assessments. Health Professionals continue to make recommendations based on paper-based evidence, where possible, to avoid unnecessary assessments.