Tuesday 26 July 2011

Atos Assessments...boo!!

The Work and Pensions Committee report published today makes for bleak reading.

The report in full is available at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/publications/

I declare an interest.  For a time I was the Campaign Co-ordinator for ACT NOW.  ACT NOW is concerned about the inappropriateness of the Atos assessment procedures as applied to people with autism. (It should be added that ACT NOW campaigns on other issues affecting children and adults with autism and their parents and carers.)

The campaign has been difficult.  The last Labour government introduced the assessments and so, in opposition, the Labour Party was not well-placed to criticise the Coalition for continuing with the policies it inherited.

However, there has been support from backbenchers in the Labour Party.  Jon Cruddas MP has been a strong supporter and indeed became the patron of ACT NOW.

The committee's report is but the start of the campaign to effect change in the procedures for assessing a person's ability to work.  I note the Department of Work and Pensions published its own report today in  a feeble attempt to take the sting out of the committee's report.

The BBC article (see link below) covers both the committee and the DWP reports.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14280849

As a bit of light relief I have posted a photograph of Anna Kennedy and Carole Rutherford, two of the core founder members of ACT NOW with John Cruddas earlier this year.  I managed to sneak in as did Terry Rutherford, a staunch ACT NOW supporter.

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