Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
DWP failures have resulted in hundreds of serious harms and deaths to claimants.
Recommendation
DWP provides essential services that act as a lifeline to millions of people each year, many of whom are vulnerable and require additional support to access them. For this reason, when mistakes are made, it is possible that the severest consequences can arise. Over several years there are known to have been hundreds of serious harms and deaths of claimants, many of which could have been prevented had DWP discharged its responsibilities more effectively. It is imperative that DWP learns from these mistakes so that opportunities to prevent deaths of and serious harm to people are not missed in the future. (Conclusion, Paragraph 17)
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating it is open to a statutory duty to safeguard vulnerable customers and has completed a consultation on a new DWP safeguarding approach. The Secretary of State will make a statement in the Autumn outlining a new approach based on review findings, focusing on cultural change, renewed commitment, and systems-based approaches to safeguarding.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government is open to the introduction of a statutory duty to safeguard vulnerable customers and acknowledges the importance of a system-wide approach to ensure consistency, transparency and accountability across Government. As previously shared with the Committee, the Government has recently completed the consultation on the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, on a new DWP safeguarding approach. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will make a statement to the House in the Autumn, following the consideration of the consultation findings and on conclusion of the Department’s current safeguarding review, setting out DWP’s new approach to safeguarding. This will include a clear statement of intent to drive cultural change across all levels of the Department, renew the commitment to safeguarding, promote systems-based approaches, and define DWP’s role in supporting those with safeguarding needs.