§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give details of the functions to be assessed by the functional test on the disability working allowance; and which disability organisations he has consulted regarding the details of the test;
(2) whether his Department has drafted details of the functional test on the disability working allowance.
§ Mr. ScottThe test of functional disability for the disability working allowance—DWA—will be based upon the method of assessing disability developed by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for its survey of disabled people in Great Britain. Research is currently under way to ensure that the test, which will use claimants' own assessment of their abilities, works satisfactorily. Very early indications are that a large majority of disabled people are happy to complete a self-assessment form similar to the one we have in mind for DWA. The research should be completed in April 1991.
Our proposals were developed in the light of discussions between officials and representatives of a number of disability organisations and other experts in the field.