§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes the Government intend to make to policy with regard to the(a) payment and (b) review of Disability Living Allowance arising from the periodic inquiries set up in June 1999; and if he will make a statement. [134570]
§ Mr. BayleyPeriodic inquiry was introduced in June 1999 as part of our response to Reports of the Social Security Select Committee into Disability Living Allowance, which recommended the introduction of a
263Wfairer, more sensitive method of reviewing entitlement.The inquiry process does not affect the way the benefit is paid; neither has it led to any policy changes to remove entitlement from any group of people with a specific impairment.
People having their awards considered by periodic inquiry are always informed in advance, and procedures have been developed in regular discussion with groups of those representing disabled people.
To the end of September, 23,888 people have had their benefit entitlement checked through periodic inquiry. Of these, 17,853 awards have remained unchanged, 4,426 have had awards increased and 1,609 have had their awards removed or reduced.
As agreed with the Social Security Select Committee, we published an evaluation report of the first six months of the periodic inquiry in August 2000 and a copy is available in the Library. An annual evaluation report is currently being prepared and we intend publishing it before the end of the year.