Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Deferred
Publish Chief Medical Adviser's assessment of Pathways to Work Green Paper proposals.
Recommendation
In response to this report, we ask that DWP confirm that planned changes to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, were prospectively assessed with respect to possible physical and mental 95 health impacts on claimants. We recommend DWP publish the Chief Medical Adviser’s team’s assessment of proposals, and place a copy in the House’s library. (Recommendation, Paragraph 41)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government did not confirm whether health and disability benefit changes were prospectively assessed for health impacts by the Chief Medical Advisor's team, nor did it commit to publishing any such assessment. Instead, it highlighted existing support services for claimants.
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 ↗