News

The battle over personal independence payment (PIP), the proposed replacement for disability living allowance (DLA) is being fought to the bitter end before today’​s vote in the House of Lords.

Yesterday Lord Freud wrote to peers attempting to discredit the Spartacus report, claiming that it ‘​grossly misrepresents’​ the DWP’​s efforts to consult with disabled claimants and disability organisations. Campaigners were quick to answer the allegatio​ns.

In a further development, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has tabled a new amendment asking for a proper trial of the new assessment system to take place before it can be introduced nationally. Campaigners are urging supporters to contact peers and ask them to support ‘​Clause 80 - Amendment 50E’​.

Full details below, crossbench peers contact details available here.

Clause 80 - Amendment 50E

BARONESS GREY-THOMPSON
BARONESS WILKINS
LORD LOW OF DALSTON
BARONESS CAMPBELL OF SURBITON

Page 58, line 26, at end insert—​

“​( ) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament an independent review of the plans for implementation of the assessments under section 79 before the provisions are brought into effect, and such plans must in particular provide for—​

(a) a trial period before any assessment process is implemented fully for new applicants and those transferring from DLA;​

(b) disabled persons organisations to be involved in formulating the assessment process.