HC Deb 18 November 1998 vol 319 c628W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact on people suffering from mental health problems of a requirement to attend an interview with a personal adviser. [60395]

Angela Eagle

In the command paper, "A New Contract for Welfare: The Gateway to Work", presented to Parliament on 28 October, we recognised that for some people an immediate interview about work may not be appropriate. This would clearly be true of someone suffering from a severe mental illness. For them, the priority will be to pay the benefit to which they are entitled and to make sure all their welfare needs are properly identified. All cases will be handled with sensitivity and in a way that takes account of individual circumstances.