§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with(a) the NHS and (b)0 insurers concerning the New Deal for Disabled People and its extension. [140340]
§ Mr. BayleyThe New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP), is a joint initiative of the Department of Social Security and the Department for Education and Employment. Consultation on the national extension consisted of four strands:
- (i) consultation with NDDP Personal Adviser Service (PAS) pilots at a PAS conference in April 2000;
695W - (ii) consultation with NDDP providers, disability organisations, employers, clients and partnerships through a set of consultation materials and a consultation seminar held in May 2000;
- (iii) a three-day programme of discussions in May 2000 facilitated by Goodwill Global Inc with departmental officials, NDDP providers, disability and employer organisations; and
- (iv) consultation with NDDP researchers at a meeting held in May 2000.
Contributions were invited from a range of health service organisations; and the Department of Health, an NHS Trust and a re-insurance company representing the insurers and re-insurers working in partnership with PAS pilots have all contributed to the consultation on the extension of the NDDP.