The DWP is continuing to use any time-wasting option available to avoid publishing details of the responses to the Modernising Support Green Paper., The document proposed radical changes to PIP, including the use of vouchers and changes to the eligibility criteria.
As we pointed out last month, when Labour won the election on 4 July, contrary to many people’s expectations, they left the Conservative government’s green paper survey open for responses until it’s official closing date on 22 July.
The Labour government went on to “review the responses” according to Stephen Timms, DWP minister for disability, but chose not to publish a response of their own.
So Benefits and Work made a Freedom of Information request for “any documents relating to an analysis, breakdown or other summary of the responses received to this consultation”.
But our request was refused on the grounds of “a lack of clarity”.
We requested that the DWP review the decision, because our request was perfectly clear. This is the first stage in the process of challenging a refusal, before appealing to the Information Commissioner’s Office and then to a tribunal.
On 9 December, we received a response from the DWP stating:
“Thank you for your Internal Review request which was received on 8th November. Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
“Whilst we endeavour to respond to Internal Reviews within twenty days, on this occasion we need more time to consider your request. Following the Information Commissioner's Office guidance we are extending this deadline by a further twenty days.”
It is very hard to see why it would take 40 working days just to decide whether our request lacked clarity – most people could probably make their mind up over a cup of coffee.
But it does allow the DWP to drag this process out for as long as possible.
And it does increase the suspicion that the DWP have a reason for not wanting people to know just how badly all of the Conservative government’s proposals for PIP were received.
