Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Kimball (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 20 April 2006.

Incapacity Benefit: Medical Examinations

Question: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. It proves that the Department for Work and Pensions plus the Minister for Welfare Reform have not done a great deal over a period in which the Prime Minister himself said that there were 1 million people claiming incapacity benefit who wanted to work. The situation will not be made any easier for the Government with a backdrop of a slowing economy, rising unemployment and the unprecedented funding crisis in the National Health Service. All the same, I wish that the Government could do more.

Answer: My Lords, I really cannot accept the noble Lord’s criticism. It was under his government that the huge increases in incapacity benefit took place. We have seen a very encouraging reduction in the numbers on incapacity benefit this year. As for the economy, I would point out to noble Lords that just under 75 per cent of the working population are now in work; historically, that is very high indeed. The economy is in a sound state, and we are determined, as part of our welfare proposals, to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit. We believe that, if they are given the right support and encouragement, then, as the Pathways to Work pilots experience has shown, we can get many of them back into work.

Secondary information