Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Chief Medical Adviser's policy impact assessments on benefit changes remain largely unpublished.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
A response document is linked to this report, dated 22 July 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗