To ask the Minister for Communities when the contract with Capita for Personal Independence Payment assessments will end; and whether she will consult with people with disabilities as to how the contract can be improved before it goes out for tender again.

I can confirm that the current contract with Capita for the delivery of Personal Independence Payment health assessments expires on 31 July 2021.. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure the safeguarding of the existing service from August 2021, the Department intends to extend this contract by 24 months to the end of July 2023.

The Department will prepare a business case for approval by the end of the year to appraise a range of options for the future delivery of Health Assessment Services. This will include a full appraisal of the in-housing option and afford opportunities for engagement and consultation with the voluntary and community sector to identify improvements to the future delivery of the service.

The Department continues to engage on a quarterly basis with the voluntary and community sector regarding the delivery of PIP through the Disability Consultative Forum, a specific forum for local disability groups and the advice sector.

The Department has also commissioned Marie Cavanagh to undertake the second independent review of the PIP assessment process. A call for evidence remains open until 16 October 2020 aimed at organisations and individuals who have information that is relevant to how the PIP assessment is operating. Recommendations will be laid in the Assembly in the form of a report which is due in December 2020.