Atos Origin claimant assessing software

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct.

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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Dear Mr Taylor

Please see attached response to your FoI request.

Kind regards

DWP Central FoI Team

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This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

We will forward your request to the relevant information owner within the
Department who will respond to you direct.

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

Dear Mr Taylor,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 7 March 2011
that was received by DWP Adelphi and forwarded for me to respond to in
my role as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Commercial Management
of Medical Services Internal Reviewing Officer. You asked:-

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work
and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'Atos Origin claimant
assessing software'.

The public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in
withholding the information in this case. Please state whether you
hold the information I have requested and if so supply it as per my
right.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/at...

As Reviewing Officer, I have read your email and accepted this as a
request for an Internal Review in order to assess whether the
information sent to you clearly and accurately answered your request. I
have therefore conducted a full investigation into your original request
and the information supplied to you. I have also reviewed any decisions
to withhold information and in doing so I have fully considered the
public interest in disclosure.

Logic Integrated Medical Assessment (LiMA) software was designed to run
on Atos Healthcare networked based PCs and has no independent function.
It provides healthcare professionals (HCPs) with a system of data entry
that minimises typing but the use of Standard phrases is never mandated
and the option of 'free text' (where the user types into the report) is
always available. There are no constraints placed on the HCP as to what
information is recorded or how. The questions and options built into the
LiMA programme are exactly the same as those in the clerical form IB85
Incapacity for Work Medical Report Form. This form was designed by the
Department for Work and Pensions.

I note in your original request you asked for the coding and
specifications of the system used to mechanistically assess claimants by
Atos Origin. In our view, the public interest in understanding how the
LiMA system works, and in being assured that the LiMA system properly
reflects and supports the identification and assessment of benefit
entitlements, can be met by a non-technical description of the system,
and the role it is intended to play in the decision making process.

As full information about the content of LiMA is already publicly
available there is no further requirement to release the software and
therefore jeopardise taxpayer's interests.

In addressing your concerns I have considered again the decision of the
Freedom of Information Officer to withhold technical LiMA data under
Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I note that the
response sent to you did explain in detail about LiMA and its commercial
value. I have considered the balance between the public interest in
disclosing this information against DWP's obligation to protect
taxpayer's money.

In concluding this Internal Review I uphold the decision of the Freedom
of Information Officer dated 04 March 2011 and I am satisfied that all
the information that DWP is able to release has been provided.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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