Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Timms Review what steps he has taken to engage with deaf and disabled people and Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations in Northern Ireland.

Listening to the lived experience and expertise of disabled people will be critical to the Review’s success. Over the summer, I met with representatives from more than 50 organisations across the disability, welfare and co-production spaces, including organisations from all four nations.

While PIP is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, there is a long-standing principle of parity between the social security systems of the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government. It is therefore important that the Review hears from disabled people in Northern Ireland and the organisations that represent them.

We have launched an open and accessible Expression of Interest to join the Review’s steering group, and we strongly encourage applications from people across the UK, regardless of background or location. The steering group will include a majority of disabled people or representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations.

Once in place, the steering group will oversee a programme of engagement and participation that brings together the full range of views and voices.