Auditor finds ‘weaknesses’ in fit-to-work assessments

The National Audit Office is reported to have found ‘weaknesses’ in the contract between the government and Atos, the French private firm paid to carry out fit-to-work medical assessments. It says the Department for Work and Pensions has failed to penalise Atos for ‘underperformance’, and has not set ‘sufficiently challenging’ targets.

The NAO’s comments were made in a letter to Tom Greatrex MP, who had raised concerns about whether the DWP was receiving value for money. From October 2010 the medical tests have applied to everyone moving from incapacity benefit to its successor employment and support allowance.

Source: BBC report, 17 August 2012
LinksBBC report | Guardian report

Tweet this page