Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Chief Medical Adviser's policy impact assessments on benefit changes remain largely unpublished.
Conclusion
The Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) told us her team provided clinical advice to Ministers and was involved in assessing any potential policy changes put forward within White Papers or Green Papers; however, these assessments were not usually published, to enable Ministers to make decisions in a safe space. The Pathways to Work Green Paper proposes sweeping changes to health and disability benefits and will have a significant effect on claimants. Given the potential impact of these reforms, we believe it would be appropriate for Ministers to approve the publication of the CMA assessment of proposals, to aid Parliamentary and public scrutiny. (Conclusion, Paragraph 40)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government did not commit to publishing the Chief Medical Advisor's assessment of proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The response focused on increasing engagement, staff training, and developing a trauma-informed approach.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Government also recognises the value of such assessments being undertaken jointly, with the Chief Medical Advisor working alongside policy officials to determine the relevance and appropriateness of input, in order to support the effective and efficient functioning of Government. Policy development does not include a single piece of advice from the Chief Medical Advisor. Their team works in collaboration with policy colleagues to provide advice. Therefore, a single document does not exist. Changes set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper and any assessments made on these by the Chief Medical Advisor and their team alongside policy colleagues remain as advice provided to the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Government does not intend to publish this advice.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗