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Responding to today's (Tuesday) report by Professor Malcolm Harrington on the government's incapacity tests, the TUC backed calls for assessments to be fairer and more humane.
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date: 20 November 2012

embargo: For immediate release

Responding to today's (Tuesday) report by Professor Malcolm Harrington on the government's incapacity tests, the TUC backed calls for assessments to be fairer and more humane.

Commenting on the review, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Professor Harrington is right to call for a fairer and more humane system for those being tested for incapacity benefit. While we are pleased that the government is beginning to implement his reforms it is clear from his final review that changes need to be introduced quicker.

'It is essential that ministers follow his recommendation to monitor more closely the performance of private firm ATOS. The TUC shares the concerns of disability organisations that many people unable to work have failed their assessments.

'While there have been improvements in the way tests are carried out there is still a long way to go before we have a truly fair system. Furthermore, the design of the current tests continues to exclude many genuinely disabled people. We agree with Professor Harrington that progress in addressing this has been too slow'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

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