Have your say on ESA and WCA - 13 May: Newcastle

UKParliament

(We posted this on the Disability and Dosh board but also wanted to flag this here in case this was of interest to people so apologies for multiple posting)

On Tuesday 13 May the Work and Pensions Committee will hold a public meeting in Newcastle to hear from members of the public about their experiences of Employment and Support Allowance and the Work Capability Assessment.

The meeting, which will take place at Newcastle Football Club between 10.30am and 12.30pm and is open to all, will inform the Committee’s inquiry into Employment and Support Allowance and the Work Capability Assessments.

Commenting on the meeting Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Dame Anne Begg MP, said:

“Committee Members, not least in our role as constituency MPs, have heard many concerns about Employment and Support Allowance and about the Work Capability Assessment in particular. We are therefore keen to get out of Westminster and find out how the system is working on the ground.

“We want to hear from people who have experience of making a new claim for Employment and Support Allowance or who have been through the incapacity benefit reassessment process. Their observations on how the system is working and, crucially, suggestions for how it can be improved, will help inform our ongoing inquiry.”

Further information can be found on this PDF Flyer for Work and Pensions Committee Outreach Event

If you do go along - do let us know!
Thanks
DOT

UKParliament

We would love to know if anyone went along to this event - please do let us know what you thought.

All the best
DOT

geoffken

Wroth that amount of notice I would be surprised if ANYBODY turned up.
I would have been available with more than 4 hours of working time notice.
May be you could give at least a weeks notice in future after all you must have booked the venue a LONG time ago but a nice jolly from London and probably an overnight as well.

A.Penny.Saved

Less than 24 hours notice is ridiculous IMO. It would be very poor notice if I lived nearby which I don't.

This sounds like a "We did give an opportunity for people to have their say but........"

SJI85

I live in Newcastle and I heard nothing about this until I saw your post the day it was made.

[Deleted User]

you have to wonder how much "evidence"these people need that the system is flawed?

mandi

House_of_Commons_Rep_(DOT) wrote: »

Commenting on the meeting Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Dame Anne Begg MP, said:

“Committee Members, not least in our role as constituency MPs, have heard many concerns about Employment and Support Allowance and about the Work Capability Assessment in particular. We are therefore keen to get out of Westminster and find out how the system is working on the ground.


DOT

As the notice given was far too short , perhaps Ms Beeg could take the time to read this thread .

Or could you forward it to her Dot ? Thank you .

UKParliament

Hi Mandi

I can certainly pass the link on to the Clerks of the Committee.

I apologise for the short notice - I also only found out about it a day before it took place but wanted to post it in the hopes that some notice was better than none.

The Committee of course did their own promotion of the event but I wanted to post it here for MSE'ers to get an opportunity to see it.

Again, I apologise for this
Thanks

DOT

geoffken

Could you perhaps provide proof of the prior advertising and also ask the committee how many actually turned up.
After all they were there.

UKParliament

geoffken wrote: »

Could you perhaps provide proof of the prior advertising and also ask the committee how many actually turned up.
After all they were there.

geoffken

I can provide a link to the press release of the event from the Committee - this also links through to their contact details should you wish to ask them about prior advertising and attendance (see the 'contact us' link in the left-hand menu) - it is outside of my remit to request this information from them.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news/public-meeting/

I hope this is sufficient?
Thanks
DOT

geoffken

I have today sent this to the committee so I will update if/when I get a reply.



Freedom of information request




Date 16 May 2014


I understand that your committee organised a public meeting in Newcastle on 13 May 2014.
I would be grateful if you would provide details as below.
1: Details of prior advertising with publications /dates/costs involved.
2: Which organisations were invited/involved?
3: Costs of event.
4: Costs of transport /hotel accommodation including any pre meeting costs.
5: How many members of public attended (excluding members of organisations directly invited.
6: do you have plans for any other events?
7: Have you organised any other events and what were the costs involved as above and how many attendees were there in categories as above.