§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the conceptual basis and practical operation of the all work test to take account of the evidence submitted to the Social Security Committee's inquiry into incapacity benefit (HC 80, Session 1996–97); and if she will report on the progress already made in evaluating the all work test. [112]
§ Mr. DenhamThe evidence provided to the Social Security Select Committee and the findings of the survey of people who have left Incapacity Benefit, currently under way, will enable us to consider whether changes are necessary to ensure that the test provides a fair assessment of a person's incapacity for work for benefit purposes.
An initial evaluation of the reliability and validity of the all work test was carried out by this Department last year. A report of the findings is in the Library.