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Written question asked by Colin Challen (Labour) on Monday, 30 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 February 2006. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Monday, 13 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Incapacity Benefit

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what use is made of occupational psychology in reducing the number of people claiming incapacity benefit.
Answer

Occupational psychology and consultation with occupational psychologists have been used in the design, staff training and delivery of services that help people claiming incapacity benefit return to employment.For example, occupational psychologists were part of the team that designed the training for Jobcentre Plus staff involved in our successful Pathways to Work programme (the recently published green paper, A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering people to work Cm 6730, gives more detail about Pathways to Work). Also in Jobcentre Plus, incapacity benefit personal advisers and disability employment advisers are able to refer people to occupational psychologists where there is a need for the types of specialist assistance that those psychologists can provide.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
47978; 442 c1681W;442 c1681W
Session
2005-06
Related items
Subjects
Employment Incapacity benefit Occupational therapy Psychology Pathways to work programme
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk