§ 19. Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East)If she will make a statement on measures taken to improve the quality of treatment under the benefit integrity project of those suffering from mental illness. [47488]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. John Denham)The benefit integrity project seeks to secure the correctness of certain awards of disability living allowance. In June 1998, we decided that people who have been awarded DLA because they fall within our definition of severe mental impairment should not be contacted directly as part of the project.
We are working closely with disability organisations to improve the operation of the project.
§ Mr. Stephen Pound (Ealing, North)At least my hon. Friend has that one right.
§ Dr. IddonOn a previous occasion—if my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) will allow me to continue—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State kindly told the House that she was discussing with Mencap the way in which mentally ill people are dealt with by the benefit integrity project. My hon. Friend the Minister has also told the House that seriously mentally ill people might be excluded from it. I welcome what he has said this afternoon, but my concern is that a large number of mentally ill people are still losing their benefits by being put through the benefit integrity project. May I suggest that more sympathetic consideration be given and that specialist doctors be employed so that we can genuinely assess those people?
§ Mr. DenhamI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his support for the further changes that we have made to the operation of the benefit integrity project. I can of course assure him that we shall continue to meet and consult organisations of and for disabled people on the project's operation, and we shall always consider further proposals for the improvement of its running. We take steps to ensure that those who advise our adjudication officers on DLA decisions are properly medically qualified to deal with the range of conditions that come before them and to seek additional information where that is necessary.