§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish the details of the process of consultation engaged in by his Department prior to the introduction of the proposed disability employment credit;
(2) what plans he has to engage in consultation with organisations representing people with disabilities on the proposals for a disability employment credit.
§ Mr. ScottWhen we published "The Way Ahead: Benefits for Disabled People", comments were invited from many representative organisations; and on 5 April I held a meeting with the Disability Benefits Consortium. Careful consideration was given to the comments we received.
On 12 November, we published a note which sets out the provisions of the new benefit, which, following research and discussion, we have decided to call disability working allowance. Copies of this document have been sent to 120 organisations, including those which commented on the disability living allowance document "Disability Allowance: Assessment and Adjudication".