Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the recruitment of healthcare professionals by third party providers is sufficient to meet the current volume of work capability assessments for disabled people; and what are the minimum qualifications being sought as part of the recruitment process.

Since the commencement of the Health and Disability Assessment Service contract in March 2015 the supplier, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA), has increased its number of Healthcare Professionals by over 60%. As a result, CHDA are on course to deliver the contractual volumes for work capability assessments.

All Healthcare Professionals who undertake work capability assessments are registered healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists or occupational therapists, with a minimum of two years broad - based post registration experience.