§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will review, in conjunction with disabled groups, the forms and letters issued under the Benefit Integrity Project; [35229]
(2) if she will provide disability awareness training to adjudication officers involved in the Benefit Integrity Project; [35230]
(3) if she will establish refresher training courses on disablement issues for visiting officers involved in the Benefit Integrity Project. [35231]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 23 March 1998]: Following discussion with organisations representing disabled people, we have established a programme of incremental improvements to the Benefit Integrity Project, including the key issues raised.
We intend to re-consider the literature issued to claimants as part of the Project, in order to make it clearer and more specific. In addition, we will be working with groups of and for disabled people to review our training programme for Visiting and Adjudication Officers.
The Benefits Agency is committed to carrying out the work of this Project in a sensitive and considerate manner. The review work to be carried out over the next few weeks confirms our determination to be fair, and to be seen to be fair.