Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Atos reimburses GP practices for any costs incurred when GPs have employed a staff member to deal with the administration of requests relating to personal independence payment claims.

GPs are paid a prearranged fee of £33.50 by assessment providers for each completed further evidence request, as the information requested is not included in their contractual agreement.

The Department does not prescribe GPs with criteria on how they should handle these requests. That is purely a decision for the GP surgery.