Mark Harper says the government will NOT respond to the Select Committee report on AtW before the election
25th March 2015
Mark Harper, Minister for Disability, has sent the DWP Select Committee a letter saying that he will not respond to the Select Committee report on AtW before the election, and so it will be left for the next government to do that. He said this was because there wasn't enough time to respond.
The Select Committee have written back saying they are very disappointed because:
Click here to read Mark Harper's letter, and the Select Committee's response
Mark Harper, Minister for Disability, has sent the DWP Select Committee a letter saying that he will not respond to the Select Committee report on AtW before the election, and so it will be left for the next government to do that. He said this was because there wasn't enough time to respond.
The Select Committee have written back saying they are very disappointed because:
- it is normal for the government to respond within two months, and there is no reason this response should take longer,
- he hasn't referenced the Select Committee report in the changes he has announced already,
- and that he has made a major change (the cap on awards) that goes against the conclusions and recommendations in the report, before responding to the Select Committee's arguments against this approach.
Click here to read Mark Harper's letter, and the Select Committee's response
DWP Select Committee - discussion, what you can do now, and links.
20 December 2014
The DWP Select Committee has published their report on AtW. It's a very good report. The select committee have understood the problems that Deaf and disabled people had with AtW. Their report clearly explains those problems, makes helpful recommendations, and asks the government to provide evidence about what they say they are doing and say they will do.
If you sent evidence to the Select Committee, helped other people to send evidence, gave evidence at the oral sessions, or in other ways worked with the Select Committee to help them understand the issues, then you should feel proud. Your evidence had a big impact and helped them get this right. Take a few minutes to appreciate that we can sometimes make a difference.
Below you'll find useful links to the Select Committee report in English, BSL and Easy Read. Easy Read is written in very plain English with pictures. If you want a quick summary of the main issues and recommendations, I think it's really useful.
What Mark Harper, the Minister for Disabled people, has said:
When Mark Harper, gave evidence to the Select Committee, he accepted there had been some problems, and said that he wanted to start making changes to improve things as soon as possible.
Because Parliament breaks for Xmas, he issued a statement 18/12/14 saying what improvements AtW have made, and plan to make, and that he will look at and respond to the Select Committee's report. Whilst this statement was made just before the Select Committee report was published, it is likely to be at least a partial response to it.
There will be a formal response to the Select Committee report probably by the end of February. It may or may not say more about what the DWP will do in response to the Select Committee report.
Are things getting better?
Feedback to DeafATW is that whilst some Deaf people are getting better support from AtW, for other Deaf people there are still big problems with AtW, especially for self employed Deaf people. We will need to see if the other changes help.
What will happen now?
The Government doesn’t have to do what the Select Committee recommends. It is likely they will accept some recommendations and not others. But even if they accept some recommendations, they don't always do what they say they will do.
Stop the Changes, NUBSLI, UKCoD, and the BDA all have made statements in response to the Select Committee report, and Minister's statement, and all will continue to campaign for AtW to improve. Links to these are all below.
What can you do?
1) If you are still having problems with your AtW, or are an interpreter and are still owed money, etc. then complain to the PHSO now. PHSO are investigating complaints about AtW now, and their findings may cause AtW to make changes. It's harder for AtW to ignore the PHSO's recommendations than it is is for them to ignore the Select Committee. More information the DeafATW PHSO page.
Also, the Select Committee recommendations may help AtW customers in general, but if you want your problems with AtW to be sorted out, go to the PHSO.
2) Join Stop the Changes and NUBSLI. The more people they represent, the stronger they can campaign on our behalf. As a member you can also talk with them about what you think they should do.
3) Talk to UKCoD, the BDA, Action on Hearing Loss, etc. to make sure they know what is happening with AtW, what you want them to do and say to government.
4) Talk to your MP. Tell everyone else to talk to their MP. The election is coming up soon, and MPs care about your vote. Tell them that you will be voting for the party that agrees to implement the Select Committee recommendations in full, and properly supports Deaf and disabled people to work. Let’s make it an issue fro Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Greens and all.
If you have any more suggestions, let me know and I'll add them here.
Click the links below:
DWP Select Committee page, with their press release about the report, and links to the report in different formats.
DWP Select Committee report summary in BSL.
DWP Select Committee report summary in Easy Read.
DWP Select Committee full report in English PDF
DWP Select Committee full report in English on their website.
Mark Harper's statement about what changes AtW are planning to make.
Stop the Changes discussion of the report. They pick up on the wider disability issues too.
NUBSLI (National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters) discussion of the report.
Limping Chicken blog - on the Select Committee report in BSL and English.
Limping Chicken blog - responses to the report from: Mark Harper, David Buxton (as Chair of UKCoD AtW working group), and Jim Edwards (CEO of Signature).
BDA response to Select Committee report and Mark Harper's statement in BSL and English.
Action on Disability & Work UK (ADWUK) response to the Select Committee Report. They would have liked the report to say how Disabled People's User Led Organisations could help with AtW.
UKCoD response to Mark Harper's statement.
The DWP Select Committee has published their report on AtW. It's a very good report. The select committee have understood the problems that Deaf and disabled people had with AtW. Their report clearly explains those problems, makes helpful recommendations, and asks the government to provide evidence about what they say they are doing and say they will do.
If you sent evidence to the Select Committee, helped other people to send evidence, gave evidence at the oral sessions, or in other ways worked with the Select Committee to help them understand the issues, then you should feel proud. Your evidence had a big impact and helped them get this right. Take a few minutes to appreciate that we can sometimes make a difference.
Below you'll find useful links to the Select Committee report in English, BSL and Easy Read. Easy Read is written in very plain English with pictures. If you want a quick summary of the main issues and recommendations, I think it's really useful.
What Mark Harper, the Minister for Disabled people, has said:
When Mark Harper, gave evidence to the Select Committee, he accepted there had been some problems, and said that he wanted to start making changes to improve things as soon as possible.
Because Parliament breaks for Xmas, he issued a statement 18/12/14 saying what improvements AtW have made, and plan to make, and that he will look at and respond to the Select Committee's report. Whilst this statement was made just before the Select Committee report was published, it is likely to be at least a partial response to it.
There will be a formal response to the Select Committee report probably by the end of February. It may or may not say more about what the DWP will do in response to the Select Committee report.
Are things getting better?
Feedback to DeafATW is that whilst some Deaf people are getting better support from AtW, for other Deaf people there are still big problems with AtW, especially for self employed Deaf people. We will need to see if the other changes help.
What will happen now?
The Government doesn’t have to do what the Select Committee recommends. It is likely they will accept some recommendations and not others. But even if they accept some recommendations, they don't always do what they say they will do.
Stop the Changes, NUBSLI, UKCoD, and the BDA all have made statements in response to the Select Committee report, and Minister's statement, and all will continue to campaign for AtW to improve. Links to these are all below.
What can you do?
1) If you are still having problems with your AtW, or are an interpreter and are still owed money, etc. then complain to the PHSO now. PHSO are investigating complaints about AtW now, and their findings may cause AtW to make changes. It's harder for AtW to ignore the PHSO's recommendations than it is is for them to ignore the Select Committee. More information the DeafATW PHSO page.
Also, the Select Committee recommendations may help AtW customers in general, but if you want your problems with AtW to be sorted out, go to the PHSO.
2) Join Stop the Changes and NUBSLI. The more people they represent, the stronger they can campaign on our behalf. As a member you can also talk with them about what you think they should do.
3) Talk to UKCoD, the BDA, Action on Hearing Loss, etc. to make sure they know what is happening with AtW, what you want them to do and say to government.
4) Talk to your MP. Tell everyone else to talk to their MP. The election is coming up soon, and MPs care about your vote. Tell them that you will be voting for the party that agrees to implement the Select Committee recommendations in full, and properly supports Deaf and disabled people to work. Let’s make it an issue fro Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Greens and all.
If you have any more suggestions, let me know and I'll add them here.
Click the links below:
DWP Select Committee page, with their press release about the report, and links to the report in different formats.
DWP Select Committee report summary in BSL.
DWP Select Committee report summary in Easy Read.
DWP Select Committee full report in English PDF
DWP Select Committee full report in English on their website.
Mark Harper's statement about what changes AtW are planning to make.
Stop the Changes discussion of the report. They pick up on the wider disability issues too.
NUBSLI (National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters) discussion of the report.
Limping Chicken blog - on the Select Committee report in BSL and English.
Limping Chicken blog - responses to the report from: Mark Harper, David Buxton (as Chair of UKCoD AtW working group), and Jim Edwards (CEO of Signature).
BDA response to Select Committee report and Mark Harper's statement in BSL and English.
Action on Disability & Work UK (ADWUK) response to the Select Committee Report. They would have liked the report to say how Disabled People's User Led Organisations could help with AtW.
UKCoD response to Mark Harper's statement.
Evidence to the Select Committee is now published online
5 July 2014
If you have time, it's worth looking at the submissions. They are a good reflection of the kinds of issues that prompted me to set up this website.
The DWP have also submitted evidence. Download DWP's evidence below.
Click here to download a PDF of the DWP own evidence about AtW
If you have time, it's worth looking at the submissions. They are a good reflection of the kinds of issues that prompted me to set up this website.
The DWP have also submitted evidence. Download DWP's evidence below.
Click here to download a PDF of the DWP own evidence about AtW
DWP Select Committee Evidence now published online - well done all of us!
3rd July 2014
Submissions accepted as evidence are now published on line. There's a broad spread of Deaf people, organisations, businesses, interpreters, etc.
The Select Committee has received around 300 submissions. We should feel really proud of this. It’s rare for this Select Committee to get so many submissions from the public.
The fact that so many of us have sent our experiences is really good, as the Select Committee will understand that these problems are happening a lot, and how they affect people, and so are likely to take that into account in discussions, and when making recommendations.
Every submission has been read by Select Committee staff.
As you can see on the Select Committee website, most of these submissions have been accepted as evidence.
The rest have been accepted as background material. All of these will be put into a single document, and will be circulated to all members of the committee for them to read. But they won’t be published.
There are two main reasons that submissions may have been taken as background material and not evidence:
1) They included the names and/or email addresses of AtW / DWP staff. It isn’t felt to be appropriate to publish these in evidence.
2) Some evidence is very similar to other evidence. This is not surprising, because many of us have had similar experiences. It doesn’t help the Select Committee to have several pieces of evidence that are very, very similar.
Submissions accepted as evidence are now published on line. There's a broad spread of Deaf people, organisations, businesses, interpreters, etc.
The Select Committee has received around 300 submissions. We should feel really proud of this. It’s rare for this Select Committee to get so many submissions from the public.
The fact that so many of us have sent our experiences is really good, as the Select Committee will understand that these problems are happening a lot, and how they affect people, and so are likely to take that into account in discussions, and when making recommendations.
Every submission has been read by Select Committee staff.
As you can see on the Select Committee website, most of these submissions have been accepted as evidence.
The rest have been accepted as background material. All of these will be put into a single document, and will be circulated to all members of the committee for them to read. But they won’t be published.
There are two main reasons that submissions may have been taken as background material and not evidence:
1) They included the names and/or email addresses of AtW / DWP staff. It isn’t felt to be appropriate to publish these in evidence.
2) Some evidence is very similar to other evidence. This is not surprising, because many of us have had similar experiences. It doesn’t help the Select Committee to have several pieces of evidence that are very, very similar.
Information about the Work and Pensions Select Committee, and the inquiry about AtW in 2014. This is useful as a historic record, and for any future enquiries.
The information below, mostly in English and BSL, is about the Work and Pensions Select Committee, and about their inquiry in 2014.
Below you will find information about:
Please see the DeafATW Updates page for information about the evidence sent to the Select Committee, and their report.
The information below is just for information. As the inquiry is finished now, you cannot send more evidence.
Below you will find information about:
- What is a Select Committee
- How to contact the Work and Pensions Select Committee if you have concerns about AtW.
- To read the evidence that was sent to the Committee's inquiry in 2014.
- To watch (or read) the second hearing, BSL interpreted.
- What the Work and Pensions Select Committee were investigating in 2014.
- How to write (or sign) good evidence for a Select Committee.
- An explanation that evidence to a Select committee is not confidential.
- Information about giving evidence in person to a Select committee.
Please see the DeafATW Updates page for information about the evidence sent to the Select Committee, and their report.
The information below is just for information. As the inquiry is finished now, you cannot send more evidence.
Write to the Work and Pensions Select Committee
In 2014 campaigners said that this committee may be really important, and could help to challenge AtW on the changes. They also said that the Clerk of the committee will be really helpful to explain how to provide evidence if a relevant inquiry is going on.
This committee is important - it's one of a number of committees that check the spending, policy and administration of different parts of government. They choose what particular issues they look at through what's called an inquiry. When they have an inquiry the public can send evidence, and sometimes talk to the committee, to explain about the problems.
Contact the Clerk of the committee here. The Clerk of the committee can pass on your concerns to the committee, and give advice on how to explain what you want. They are usually really helpful.
You can find out more about the Work and Pensions Committee here
This committee is important - it's one of a number of committees that check the spending, policy and administration of different parts of government. They choose what particular issues they look at through what's called an inquiry. When they have an inquiry the public can send evidence, and sometimes talk to the committee, to explain about the problems.
Contact the Clerk of the committee here. The Clerk of the committee can pass on your concerns to the committee, and give advice on how to explain what you want. They are usually really helpful.
You can find out more about the Work and Pensions Committee here
The Work and Pensions Select Committee heard from AtW users and from user representative groups on 3rd September 2014. Below you will find links to the Select Committee web page, a video of the session with in-vision interpreter, and english transcript of the session.
See people's accepted written evidence to the inquiry here
Click here to read about attending Select Committee oral sessions
Click here for the second hearing Parliament TV Video including in-vision interpreting - AtW users and user representative groups
Click here for the English transcript of the the second hearing - AtW users and user representative groups
General information about the inquiry here
Click here to read about attending Select Committee oral sessions
Click here for the second hearing Parliament TV Video including in-vision interpreting - AtW users and user representative groups
Click here for the English transcript of the the second hearing - AtW users and user representative groups
General information about the inquiry here
Why sending evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee is really important
Other campaigners have said that this committee may be really important, and could help to challenge AtW on the changes. They also said that the Clerk of the committee will be really helpful to explain how to provide evidence to the inquiry.
This committee is important - it's one of a number of committees that check the spending, policy and administration of different parts of government. They choose what particular issues they look at through what's called an inquiry. For the inquiry the public can send evidence, and sometimes talk to the committee, to explain about the problems. Deaf and disabled people are having big problems with AtW. So it’s really important you submit evidence about these problems to the Select Committee. If you don't tell them, then they won't know. |
Why sending evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee is really important - BSL
BSL says may be inquiry - inquiry is happening now! English updated, can't update the BSL in time.
|
Suggestions from Deaf people of some things it may be good to say in your evidence
What should you talk about?
It helps to write things down, and decide what they main things are. If you tell people too much information, or long complicated stories about what happened, they may not understand the main point. So try to say just what you need to say, keep it short and specific. And be really clear about how AtW can put it right. |
Suggestions from Deaf people of some things it may be good to say in your evidence - BSL
|
What was the inquiry looking at in 2014?The Select Committee is looking at five things about AtW:
1) What is the AtW application and assessment process like for Deaf and disabled people, and for their employers? (This can be for the first time you apply, or when you are being re-assessed). 2) Is AtW support for Deaf and disabled people good enough, and does it meet your needs? This is for both: a) The help and advice they offer you and your employer, and b) The support they offer – interpreters, other support workers, aids and adaptations. 3) How good AtW is at supporting deaf and disabled people with learning disabilities and mental health problems? (If you have suffered from severe stress, you can talk about how AtW supported you with that). 4) How good AtW is in helping deaf and disabled people: a) Get a job b) Keep a job and carry on working, and c) Get a better job. 5) What you think of what DWP and AtW have done to help more Deaf and disabled people use AtW, including both: a) How well they let Deaf and disabled people, and employers, know about AtW, and b) How well you think AtW is funded. You don’t have to talk about all these things in your evidence. |
What was the inquiry looking at in 2014? BSL |
How do I write evidence for a Select Committee?
They suggest that you first explain whether you are sending evidence from yourself, or as an organisation. Then have an Executive Summary, saying the main points in your evidence, using bullet points. Next have a short Introduction, about you or your organisation, and why you are sending evidence. Then give your evidence. Many people suggest it helps if you use the Select Committee’s questions as headings. You can also include facts in your evidence that can help the Select Committee think what questions they want to ask AtW / DWP, and decide what happened. Last have a Recommendations section, where you can suggest what you think AtW, DWP, the government, or others should do to make this better. This section is really important, because you know best what they need to do to support your work access needs. These recommendations should link to the problems you’ve talked about in your evidence. Below you can download a word document that already has all the headings, Select Committees questions, and numbering set up. It also has some recommendations that may help you think about the kind of recommendations you want to make. |
How do I write evidence for a Select Committee? BSL |
Is evidence to a Select Committee confidential (private)?No, evidence is not confidential or private.
All of the evidence will be published on the internet. There is a lot of evidence though, so most of it probably will never be read by anyone except the Select Committee. But if you want something to be really private, then write that separate from your evidence. Let the Committee know that this information is confidential, and then the confidential information will be read by the Committee as background reading (just for their information), but won’t be used as evidence for the inquiry. |
Is evidence to a Select Committee confidential (private)? BSL |
What does ‘being called to give evidence’ or 'give evidence in person' mean?
Sometimes people or organisations may be asked by the Select Committee to go and talk to them. Sometimes that will be because they want to talk to you more about the written evidence you have sent in. Sometimes it’s because they want to talk to someone who hasn’t sent in evidence.
At the moment they are just asking for written evidence. If they start asking people to give evidence in person, I will put more information about that on this page. |
What does ‘being called to give evidence’ or 'give evidence in person' mean? BSL
|
More information and links about the DWP Select Committee and AtW inquiryLinks to contact details, information about the DWP Select Committee, about the inquiry, and about writing and sending evidence.
If you need help or have any questions you can email the staff at the Select Committee -
[email protected]
Or you can phone - 0207 219 4835 The Terms of Reference for the inquiry (what do they want to know, how you have to write and send the evidence, etc.). Most of this information is summarised on this DeafATW Select Committee inquiry page.
Information about the inquiry in easier English with pictures (called Easy Read). It's very clear. Most of this information is summarised on this DeafATW Select Committee inquiry page.
More information about writing evidence, or going in person to give evidence to the Select Committee. A lot of this information is summarised on this DeafATW Select Committee inquiry page.
|
|
Darren's high spec home studio, used for filming his translations.
It just looks like an iPhone balanced on videos, balanced on a book, balanced on a box, balanced on the kitchen stool. Clive's superb translations were filmed in a proper film studio, with an auto cue, and professional film editing. (Jealous, me?) An advantage of auto cues is that they don't sneeze in the middle of the script. See video. |
|
|