Recommendation 2

We note that in April 2022, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and DWP were working to improve DWP’s treatment of disabled benefit claimants in accordance with a legally binding section 23 agreement. We further note that the EHRC launched a formal investigation into DWP in May 2024, which is considering if DWP failed to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people with learning disabilities or long-term mental health conditions during health assessment determinations, and that as of April 2025, this investigation is ongoing. It is essential that the investigation be allowed to run its course, and at this point we do not wish to make any conclusions and recommendations that anticipate findings of that investigation. However, once those findings have been made, this may be an issue that the Committee wishes to scrutinise further. (Conclusion, Paragraph 18)