Whilst there is still no news on who is being approached to take part in the Timms review, a number of leading charities have written to the minister this month arguing for genuine co-production.
And Disabled People Against Cuts are keeping up the pressure, with a demonstration outside the Labour party conference next month.
Meanwhile, Organise have started a consultation on the PIP review process.
Charities call for genuine co-production
At the beginning of the month we explained why the Timms review has fallen at the first hurdle when it comes to being genuinely co-produced. We pointed out that the group of ten people who are going to assist Timms with the review are going to be selected by Timms himself, who will also chair the review.
Yet one of the very basic principles of co-production is that there should be an independent chair who can decide who sits on the committee. In no way can Timms be described as independent.
Two weeks after our article, a group of charities wrote to Timms pointing out that co-production means more than just “consultation and mere presence at the table”.
The organisations calling for genuine co-production include:
- Z2K
- Turn2us
- Advice UK
- Amnesty International
- Carers UK
- Christians Against Poverty
- Citizens Advice
- Disability Benefits Consortium
- Law Centres Network
- Mind
- MS Society
- National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
- Trussell
Their letter asks Timms to ensure that there is broad and balanced representation, rather than unrepresentative voices on the review. This should include “people with experience of navigating the benefits system, people living in poverty, and those from minoritised groups.” The signatories also want to see unpaid carers and welfare rights advisers involved.
Given that Timms has already said he envisages appointing just ten people, it is hard to see how this can be achieved.
The charities also call for a final evaluation of the genuineness of the co-production process before the report is debated, with participants able to give anonymous feedback.
The letter asks for full transparency, including publishing details this Autumn of how the review will work, as well as the publication of the minutes of all the review meetings ahead of any debate once the review is completed.
Finally, the charities want there to be a debate and vote in the Commons to approve the outcome of the review.
Benefits and Work believes that these are all reasonable requests by some of the leading advice and disability charities. What is most important, however, is how these charities will respond if it becomes clear by this Autumn that some of even their initial requests are not being met.
Will charities be willing to publicly withdraw support from the review if it is clear that the committee is not representative, or its that its make-up and methods of work are kept secret from the outset?
Timms made it clear that the support of some specific, though unnamed organisations, was vital to the review when he denied it was designed to deliver spending cuts, saying: “I don’t think some of the people who we need to be involved in the review would be if they thought that that’s what it was for.”
If the legitimacy provided by charitable organisations is seen as vital by Timms, then it gives them at least some leverage to push Timms into making this review as genuinely co-produced as possible.
DPAC protest at Labour conference
Disabled People Against Cuts are organising a protest against Labour policies outside the party’s annual conference next month.
“Genocide Abroad, Democide At Home” is billed as a “protest against the Labour policies killing disabled people”. It will assemble at 12.00pm on Monday 29 September at The Wheel of Liverpool L3 4FN.
More details from DPAC as they become available.
Organise campaign
The Organise platform, which appears to be primarily designed to help workers win better pay and conditions is holding a consultation and poll on “Shall we keep pushing the government to protect sick and disabled people?”
Organise say that Timms promised a public review of the cuts to PIP but is now saying just 10 people may be invited to take part.
You can participate in their poll here.
What else is happening?
Are you aware of any news or protests relating to PIP changes? Please post them in the comments section below to share with other readers.
