Welfare Reform Bill

Part of the debate – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:00 pm on 22 March 2011.

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Photo of Maria Miller Maria Miller The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 12:00, 22 March 2011

I want to turn the attention of the Committee to something other than universal credit. There are major provisions in the Bill about disability living allowance and I want to take the opportunity to focus on the new assessment that we are looking at. Disability living allowance currently relies on self-assessment of an individual of their own condition. That has led, by necessity, to a very complex assessment form.

I know, Andy, that you have been involved in how that might be improved in future. Vicki might also want to contribute. How have you been able to look at the assessment; how might it be improved; how have disabled people been involved in the process; and how might they be involved in future? After all, they are the people most affected by the provisions we are making in the Bill.