Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department's assessment contractors received any (a) penalty, (b) bonus and (c) incentive to deny individual claims for (i) personal independence payment and (ii) employment and support allowance.

The role of contracted Assessment Providers is to carry out assessments on behalf of the Department. They do not determine whether a claim to Personal Independence Payment or Employment and Support Allowance is successful. They provide a report to DWP’s decision makers who then determine entitlement to benefit. No targets are in place as to how many applications are successful.

Where a need for additional support or training is identified, feedback is provided to the assessor and appropriate action taken.