House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Work Capability Assessments: People with Neurological Conditions

Monday 13 November 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Michael Shanks asked about the assessment of work capability for people with neurological conditions.
The work capability assessor training includes information on neurological conditions.
The Department is working to improve assessments for fluctuating health conditions.

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Shanks Lab Rutherglen

NHS Standards & Ethics

Context

The question arises from concerns about the adequacy of current assessment methods for individuals with fluctuating health conditions like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The hon. Gentleman is a trustee of an epilepsy charity, indicating personal involvement in addressing such issues.

Question

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of work capability assessments for people with neurological conditions? My entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests has not been published yet, but I am a trustee of an epilepsy charity. For people with neurological conditions, particularly multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, the condition is not uniform; one week they might be affected in one way, and the next week differently. The capability assessments have to match this variability so that they meet people's capabilities as they are.

Answer from Tom Pursglove

The work capability assessor training includes neurological conditions, but we are working with stakeholders to improve the assessment of fluctuating conditions. We aim to take better account of these conditions early in the claim journey.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifics on the consultation outcome and concrete steps beyond conversations

How: Not In A Position To Set Out

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Q2 Michael Shanks Lab Rutherglen

NHS Standards & Ethics

Context

The hon. Gentleman's concerns stem from his experience as a trustee of an epilepsy charity and the impact fluctuating health conditions have on individuals' ability to undergo consistent assessments.

Question

My entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests has not been published yet, but I am a trustee of an epilepsy charity. For people with neurological conditions, particularly multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, their condition is unpredictable; one week they might be affected differently than another. The work capability assessments need to adapt to these changes. With the published consultation on reforming the assessments causing concern among those affected, what more can be done to make this process holistic and responsive?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

We are spending a lot of time working with stakeholders to develop reforms that take better account of fluctuating health conditions. We aim to provide high-quality evidence early in the claim journey and are willing to have conversations about this.