WCA. Analysis of the impact of the changes to the provisions for cancer treatment

The request was successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Dr Paul Litchfield in the last Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment published in November 2014, indicates the recommendations made to DWP in each of the precedent reviews. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...

In Year 2, the following recommendation regarding Descriptors 'As and when changes to
the descriptors are made, DWP and other relevant experts should monitor the impact of these changes to ensure both that they are working and that they are not causing any unintended consequences' was accepted in full by the DWP. (Page 90 of the Review).

Under the corresponding 'DWP Action since year four report' for this recommendation, it is written: 'DWP has commissioned analysis of the impact of the changes in January 2013 to the provisions for cancer treatment but the results are not yet available. No other changes to descriptors have been made.

I would like to be sent this analysis

Yours faithfully,
Anita Bellows

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.
 
By the next working day your request will be forwarded to the relevant
information owner within the Department who will respond to you direct. 
 
If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally
expect a response within 20 working days.
 
Should you 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...
 

show quoted sections

References

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

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

You can expect a reply by 24 May 2016 unless I need to come back to you to clarify your request or the balance of the public interest test needs to be considered.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy FoI Team

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745

show quoted sections

Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,
The response to my request for 'WCA. Analysis of the impact of the changes to the provisions for cancer treatment'document has been delayed. By law, the authority should normally have responded promptly. I was told the response would be by 24th May 2016 unless you needed to come back to me to clarify my request or the balance of the public interest test needed to be considered..

I anticipate a speedy reply

Yours sincerely,

Anita Bellows

J. Smith left an annotation ()

Stephen Timms recently, ingenuously, tabled a motion to include cancer patients likely to receive or recovering from such treatment under the reformed ESA regulation 35 (certain claimants to be treated..) in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016.
However, under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, these claimants were already provided for under ESA regulation 20 (certain claimants to be treated...).
Stephen Timms signed off these policies in March 2008 and has worked in and around the department for nearly twenty years.

Anita Bellows left an annotation ()

Thanks. Although it is the case, it is at the discretion of the SoS.

J. Smith left an annotation ()

But it is no longer the case, that's my point.
Schedule 2 under Part 5 of the regulations is no more..
Claimants have significantly less protection under these reforms now that ESA regulation 29, the main exceptional circumstances provision has been substituted by regulation 35!

Anita Bellows left an annotation ()

Thanks. I understand what you are saying. Do you have any links?

J. Smith left an annotation ()

The SSAC's report, published 5th March 2015.
Appendix 4, pages 40 to 42, warns against legislating solely to undermine a GP's statement that a patient is unfit for work.

Anita Bellows left an annotation ()

Thanks. I am going to have a look at it today

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Please see the attached reply to your Freedom of Information request

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy FoI team

show quoted sections

Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, the document is not attached
Yours sincerely,

Anita Bellows

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Please accept my apologies and find the document attached

Yours sincerely

DWP Strategy FoI team

show quoted sections