§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if an assessment has been made of whether EMP reports have caused(a) ill and (b) disabled people to have benefits reduced. [36130]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownDecisions on entitlement to benefit are made by Benefits Agency decision makers. Decision makers must take into account all the available evidence when reaching their decision. This evidence may include information from the claimant, a report from a GP, hospital consultant, or other health care professional, and a report based on an assessment by a specially trained Examining Medical Practitioner (EMP). No piece of evidence automatically takes precedence over another, and the benefit entitlement decision is never made on the basis of the EMP's report alone. If a decision maker considers an EMP's report not fit for purpose, the report is returned to SchlumbergerSema Medical Services as rework.