Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ian Davidson (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 13 March 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Incapacity Benefit

Question: I am grateful that the Secretary of State visited Glasgow on Thursday, when he met some 60 people for a two-hour discussion. On Friday, he met the city council, around 70 people from the voluntary sector and around 80 employers. Then he went to my constituency, where he met a host of other people, but that was last week: what has he done for me recently? In particular, when does he expect to announce that Glasgow will be one of the pilots for new invalidity benefit roll-out proposals?- Thursday?

Answer: My hon. Friend is obviously a hard man to please, so I shall have to return to Glasgow, if he will have me. I had better bring my cheque book this time. My hon. Friend has raised a serious point about the city strategy, which is outlined in the Green Paper. We will organise a subsequent event in London later this spring, when we hope to set out further details of our proposals for taking forward that important and innovative part of the welfare reform Green Paper. I hope that that will provide another way to make further progress on getting people off benefit and back into work, which is where they want to be not only in Glasgow, but in all parts of the country.

Secondary information