Official Secrets Act for benefits testers 'worrying', says MLA

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

'Those who have information that is in the wider public interest should not be intimidated or cajoled into keeping quite' – Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady

THE REVELATION that the private company carrying out the Westminster Government’s controversial sickness benefit assessments in the Six Counties is making staff sign the Official Secrets Act has been described as “extremely worrying” by Newry/Armagh Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady, the party’s Assembly spokesperson on welfare entitlements.

Atos has been heavily criticised for its methods and protests have been staged at premises in Britain by welfare rights groups.

Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady said his office has been “inundated” with queries from people who were in receipt of sickness benefits but who have now failed their Atos assessment despite no improvement in their medical condition. He said:

“Atos staff who carry out these assessments are not required to have any medical background at all. Many of my constituents I have spoken to have described the assessment as a ‘tick box’ exercise.” He said people whose benefits are being reviewed or withdrawn are faced with assessors “galloping through a series of predetermined questions” such as ‘Can you lift a pound coin?’

Appeals by claimants whose benefits are cut off are successful in up to 6 out of 10 cases, he said. Anyone working for Atos but with concerns will be reluctant to become whistle-blowers if they’ve signed the Official Secrets Act.

“Atos need to withdraw this policy immediately,” Mickey Brady said. “Those who have information that is in the wider public interest should not be intimidated or cajoled into keeping quite.”

Scottish Labour MP Tom Greatrex described invoking the Official Secrets Act in Atos as “an extraordinary development”.

“It is only through transparency and accountability that real improvements to the work capability assessment can be made,” the Rutherglen & Hamilton West MP said. “When Atos is in receipt of millions of taxpayers’ money, it is unacceptable for a culture of secrecy and cover-up to prevail.”