The controversial fitness-for-work tests for the sick and disabled would be overhauled by an incoming Labour government with the companies which operate them paid according to the quality of their performance.{jcomments on}
The plans follow widespread criticism of “work capability assessments”, with opponents denouncing them as crude, inaccurate and inhumane.
With thousands of assessments overturned on appeal, the anger culminated in the French company Atos pulling out early from its £500 million contract to administer the tests.
Labour has decided it would retain the scheme which it introduced in Government and which has been enthusiastically promoted by the Coalition government.
Instead the party said it would fundamentally reform the programme to make it more flexible and sensitive to the needs of the disabled.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, told The Independent: “The Government’s flawed and discredited work capability assessment humiliates thousands disabled people.
“Labour will transform the work capability assessment to ensure disabled people who can work get the help they need to find a job and support those who can’t.”
Read the full story in the Independent
