§ 8. Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to consult disabled people and their representatives on the design and promotion of the new disability living allowance and disability working allowance.
§ Mr. ScottThe design and promotion of DLA and DWA were developed in close consultation with disabled people and the organisations that represent them. Following the introduction of those new benefits, we continue to consult widely both formally and informally.
§ Mr. ElletsonWill my right hon. Friend confirm that, as a result of the increased resources that his Department has allotted to the handling of the disability living allowance, there has been a substantial improvement in the speed at which claims are processed? Will he confirm that the Department remains committed to increasing the speed at which claims are handled?
§ Mr. ScottI can certainly assure my hon. Friend that that is so. The backlog of claims—in excess of what we would normally expect for in-hand claims—has now been removed. We are also ensuring that claim forms and letters associated with benefits are kept in a constant state of review and improved as necessary.
§ Mr. RooneyFrom where have the 800 additional staff been brought, and what impact has that movement had on claimants in other sectors of the system?
§ Mr. ScottBecause of the relatively low take-up of the disability working allowance in its early days, we were able to move a number of people who were previously dealing with that benefit, and people from other parts of the Benefits Agency, on to clearing the backlog of DLA. A substantial amount of the work has also been achieved by the introduction of considerable amounts of overtime during the week and at weekends.