Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Access to Work

Monday 18 December 2023 · 5 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is increasing staff to process Access to Work claims and prioritizing renewals for those with job starts within four weeks.
  • Improvements to the Access to Work service are being made through increased digitization to reduce processing times.
  • Minister is committed to working with stakeholders and partners to address challenges in the service, including impacts on neurodiverse individuals.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
NHS Employment
Context

Long waiting times for Access to Work assessments have raised concerns about their impact on the neurodiverse community and the economy.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for Access to Work assessments. I thank the Minister for her answer. Back in September, I asked the then Minister about the impact of long waiting times for Access to Work assessments on the neurodiverse, and I would like to press further on the impact of long waits for assessments in the NHS. What analysis has been done, and does the Minister appreciate the cost to the economy of not making the right adjustments to unlock such unused potential?

Answer from Mims Davies

Access to Work remains in high demand. We are increasing the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and prioritising renewal applications for those with a job start within four weeks. We are improving the service through increased digitisation to improve the time from application through to decision.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific analysis on economic impact or the cost of delays

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Q2 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
NHS
Context

Previous discussions highlighted the negative impact on neurodiverse individuals and their potential economic contributions.

Question

I thank the Minister for her answer. Back in September, I asked the then Minister about the impact of long waiting times for Access to Work assessments on the neurodiverse, and I would like to press further on the impact of long waits for assessments in the NHS. What analysis has been done, and does the Minister appreciate the cost to the economy of not making the right adjustments to unlock such unused potential?

Answer from Mims Davies

I thank the hon. Member for his point. I, too, pressed the previous Minister on this matter, and I shall be pressing myself going forward. In fact, we met and fed in work involving Thriiver in my constituency, and we have been working with stakeholders, partners and employer organisations to make sure this link is joined up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific analysis on economic impact or the cost of delays

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Q3 Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The transition from education to employment is a significant challenge for young disabled individuals.

Question

I welcome my hon. Friend to her new expanded role in the Department for Work and Pensions. The last time I raised Access to Work with her, it was about a particular blockage in my constituency, and I thank her for resolving that. She will know as well as I do that one of the biggest challenges for young disabled people is the transition into work. What reassurance can she give me that she is prioritising the applications of young people, so that when they move into their first job, that is not impeded by too slow a reaction from Access to Work?

Answer from Mims Davies

I thank my right hon. Friend, and I hope I am the Minister for getting things done in this brief, as I have been in all my other briefs in my almost five years at the DWP. I will be leaning very much into those details.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific prioritisation or action plan for young disabled individuals' applications

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Q4 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

There is concern over delays in processing Access to Work applications and the recent appointment of a new Minister.

Question

It is a pleasure to welcome the new Minister to her post. After a week of no news, I was starting to worry that the Prime Minister was not going to appoint anyone. I think she is aware of the huge Access to Work backlog her predecessor failed to tackle. Over the last year, it has reduced by only 942, with a staggering 24,339 still waiting, so hardly a dent has been made. What will she do to speed this up and ensure that thousands of disabled people are not left waiting months to start work?

Answer from Mims Davies

I thank the hon. Lady for her welcome to this post, and I hope that I have already spelled out my commitment to delivering in this brief. I think that prioritising the process of Access to Work claims, renewals and job starts within four weeks is key.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or timeline for addressing backlog

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Q5 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Benefits & Welfare Standards & Ethics
Context

The appointment of a new Minister and their position has raised concerns about the perceived importance of disability issues.

Question

All we see from this Government are delays: delays processing Access to Work applications; delays publishing the disability action plan; and now delays in appointing the new Minister. When her new role was finally announced, it had been downgraded from Minister of State to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. What message does she think that sends to disabled people, and will she push to be made Minister of State like her predecessor?

Answer from Mims Davies

I thank the hon. Lady for lobbying for my elevation and rank in this House. I am delighted to respond by making it clear to the lobby and to those we are talking about and looking after that that makes no material difference to their day-to-day life.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address concerns about promotion to Minister of State

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