In a speech yesterday, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne set out the Labour Party's disability benefit and wider welfare reform agenda for 2015.
In 'Fiscal Discipline in Social Security: DWP under Labour in 2015', Mr. Byrne acknowledges that “disability benefits are the expression of a civilised society” but adds “we need to make sure the right people get them”.
He continues:
“That's why we pioneered reform of the Work Capability Assessment. When we left office, we were testing the test. To make sure it was fit for purpose and ready to fly.
But the Government didn't finish this vital test phase. They rolled it out before it was ready. And worse they decided to let the contractor Atos run rings around them.
The result is an almighty mess that is profoundly hurting some of the most vulnerable people in Britain. The most basic of British instincts - our decency and compassion - is traduced daily.”
Mr. Byrne highlighted that even if spending on ESA appeals doesn’t increase any further over the next two years that would mean an extra £287 million over the course of this Parliament.
Turning his fire again on to ATOS who are contracted to carry out work capability assessments, Mr Byrne declares:
“We cannot go on like this. And we can’t wait until next summer for action. The time has come for some proper performance management. The time has come to put a deadline on Atos to start delivering this contract properly.
That means fixing their reports, improving the accuracy of their assessments, meeting targets for customers sent home unseen, clearing the backlog, and radically changing the culture at their centres.
In business a contractor failing like Atos would be given a deadline to turn things around or lose the contract.
We should do the same. They should be given weeks to get back on track.
And if they cannot deliver, the process should start to get them sacked and replaced – without disruption to tests.
Yes, we hired them. But, yes we'd fire them unless there's a radical improvement. “
After highlighting four other “major delivery failures” by the Government in the field of social security - the Work Programme; the Youth Contract; the bedroom tax; and universal credit – the Shadow Secretary of State ends his speech by declaring that:
“We need a system that is sustainable.
That means a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee to tackle the costs of youth unemployment and investing in homes to bring down the costs of housing benefit;
That means reforming tests for the disabled to help them into work and tackling low pay.
That means a stronger link between the contribution someone makes and the benefits they receive.
And it means a cap on social security spending so that the long-term causes of such spending – such as a lack of housing or structural unemployment – have to be faced and addressed ...”
To read the full text of Mr. Byrne's speech go to http://www.labour.org.uk/fiscal-discipline-in-social-security