Bid to halt fit-for-work tests fails

Month's deferral for Tynwald motion

An MHK's campaign to halt work capability tests while a full review is held into the way they're being carried out in the Island, has been rejected by Tynwald.

South Douglas member Kate Beecroft wanted the assessment operation run by Dependability Ltd, referred to Tynwald's powerful Social Affairs committee for a full examination and report.

But her motion was not put to the vote.

Instead, the matter was adjourned for a month, for Treasury's social security division to consider concerns about the fit-for-work tests.

Bill Henderson MLC who has political responsibility for the assessments defended the process, saying misinformation was being widely circulated.  

Mrs Beecroft cited a debate on the issue in the House of Commons earlier this month, in which she said MPs referred to some alarming cases: