Written question asked by Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour) on Monday, 31 October 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 November 2011. It was answered by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 November 2011 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

UNUM Ltd

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department has had with representatives of UNUM Ltd since May 2010.

Answer: In January 2011 representatives from Unum approached both the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), and the Minister for Welfare Reform, my noble Friend Lord Freud, to discuss a research paper. Neither Minister met with Unum representatives, but did forward the details of departmental officials involved in the independent review of sickness absence in Great Britain. Following this, on 14 February 2011 representatives of UNUM met with these officials.In addition, on 18 October 2010 a UNUM representative—as part of a delegation from UK Rehabilitation Council—met with the Minister for Welfare Reform and Department for Work and Pensions officials. A full list of ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at"http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml"An extensive search of records has not found any further discussions between the Department's officials and representatives of Unum. However, it should be noted that there are approximately 100,000 officials within the Department and it would not be possible, except at disproportionate cost, to ask each of them whether they have engaged in any such discussions.

Secondary information