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Chief Medical Adviser's policy impact assessments on benefit changes remain largely unpublished.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
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.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
As set out in the Government’s Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, ensuring that there is an increased level of engagement with almost everyone is a key feature of the reformed system. We want a fundamental shift away from the current approach where people are usually left with virtually no contact or expectation of engagement, because this means we are missing opportunities to actively help people to improve their quality of life. We have recently consulted on how to design and deliver conversations to people who currently receive no or limited contact. This engagement would be based on a personalised approach with flexibility to set meetings at a frequency and time that suits and to make reasonable adjustments to ensure accessibility. The Department is now carefully considering the consultation responses to inform the next phase of policy development. DWP is committed to ensuring that all colleagues are equipped with the necessary training and capability to identify and support vulnerable customers with diligence and compassion. Processes are in place to assess and respond to indicators of customer vulnerability. In support of this, customer-facing colleagues undergo a range of formal training to deepen their understanding of the complex barriers our customers may encounter in accessing DWP services. The Department continues to develop and test its ‘trauma-informed approach’ as outlined in the update to the WPSC in January 2025. Through this pilot, the Department aims to build customer trust by creating a more compassionate, respectful and supportive environment. The Department will continue to reflect on and explore further opportunities to strengthen trust in the design and delivery of customer- facing approaches, ensuring they remain responsive and inclusive.