WCA Audio Recordings (4)

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Can you please provide the information that explains each of the following questions together with its source?

At a WCA, a claimant audio records the session. Subsequently DWP decides to stop ESA payments and the claimant wishes to submit their case initially for re-consideration and provides the recording as evidence. Would DWP accept it as evidence:

1) If the claimant had made the HCP aware before the WCA started that the recording was being made solely for personal use and the HCP had no objection?

2)If the claimant had made the HCP aware before the WCA started that the recording was being made solely for personal use and the HCP had objected?

3)If the claimant had made the HCP aware at the end of the WCA that the recording had been made solely for personal use and the HCP had objected?

4)If the claimant had not made the HCP aware before or after the WCA that a recording was being made?

5)If the claimant claimed they had made the HCP aware and they had agreed, but the HCP denied this was the case?

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

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been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

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do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
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[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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References

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J Newman left an annotation ()

Not forgetting the reason why a claimant would consider recording their WCA, I think it is important to understand how DWP itself would regard it and to whom they would give benefit of the doubt if the need arose, set of course against Mr Grayling's regular promises of close support.

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Newman,

Please find attached response to your FoI request.

Kind regards
Central FoI Team

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John Slater left an annotation ()

Interesting response regarding the need for a transcript of recordings. I thought you could play audio or video at a tribunal hearing but it was unwise as the tribunal members are likely to get bored by having to listen to everything. A transcript is the prefered option as discussion can take place on the key areas. This sounds like another DWP attempt to make it sound very expensive to put people off (as per their original position on recording and the claimant paying for it).

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 'WCA Audio Recordings (4)'.

I am not comfortable with raising an IRR, but this response leaves me no choice - any other form of communication receives no attention and so is pointless.

I was quite ok with this response until I read the final paragraph “reminding” me about the limitations of the FoI Act and suggesting that I am misusing it. As I am not sure it this is an attempt to be ironic, I would point out the following.

I SPECIFICALLY (exactly in line with the ACT)asked for the source of any information, which has not generally been provided here. The availability of documented information is PRECISELY what I have been looking for and what has been omitted from this response.

The information provided here may be interesting and conveyed with an air of authority and knowledge, but cannot be regarded as accurate or definitive unless it can be supported by suitably documented evidence which it appears it cannot.

Given that the Atos report on the audio trial was completed 12 months ago, one would reasonably have expected DWP to have publicised the facility an made this information routinely available rather than only on request. Obviously, it has not and the answer here should have made this clear rather than trying to imply a transgression on my part – I have taken the ONLY route DWP has made available and I would have happily accepted a leaflet if indeed one was available.

My IRR is therefore on the basis that my request has not been fulfilled – no sources have been provided (which is key to the request) or an explanation as to why. The position/seniority of the author is irrelevant.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/wc...

Yours faithfully,

J Newman

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

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...

DWP DWP Medical Services Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Newman

Please find enclosed a response to your request for a review of the
information previously supplied   under the Freedom of Information Act by
the Medical Services Contract Correspondence Team Freedom of Information
Internal Review Officer, who apologises for the delay in providing you
with a response.

<<FOI 3396-IR355 J Newman Response.pdf>>
Kind regards

Medical Services Contract Correspondence Unit, Department for Work and
Pensions, Room 306, Block 3, Norcross, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3TA
Tel 01253 611556, extn 69956

Please consider the environment before printing

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