Employment and Support Allowance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what interim arrangements he plans to put in place for people with (a) mental health conditions and (b) chronic fluctuating conditions who apply for employment and support allowance pending the implementation of the recommendations of the independent review led by Professor Malcolm Harrington. [32422]

Chris Grayling: As identified by Professor Harrington during his Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), we believe that the principles of the assessment are right, but that the system which we inherited contained some flaws that risked undermining its effectiveness.

We are committed to taking forward the review's recommendations so that we can make the system fairer for claimants and fairer for the taxpayer. This is an ongoing process of improvement, so I am delighted that Professor Harrington has agreed to take on the second Independent Review of the WCA.

As with other fluctuating and chronic health conditions it is important that the WCA takes account of fluctuating mental health symptoms when assessing capability for work, it is not a snapshot view of a customer's ability to undertake day-to-day activities at any single point in time, but rather an assessment of their ability most of the time. The recommendations of the Harrington review will help us to improve the process, including for people with fluctuating mental health conditions.

Mental, intellectual and cognitive champions are due to be launched by Atos Healthcare during the first quarter of 2011, so that they are in place in time for reassessment of individuals from incapacity benefits. The champions will spread best practice regarding mental, intellectual and cognitive conditions and also handle more difficult cases.

Additionally, as you may be aware, Professor Harrington has asked Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, also involving Mencap and the National Autistic Society to provide recommendations on refining the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors within the WCA. We look forward to receiving these recommendations shortly.