Criticism of the Work Capability Assessment assessments. On the same day, an Atos spokesman made it clear that the training curriculum was set by the DWP and duly followed by Atos, stating: "We do not deviate from government guidelines in our training". The Employment Minister was asked by the BBC about the allegations of bias but he replied with a general explanation of the principles underpinning the Incapacity Benefit reassessment programme. Tom Greatrex MP wrote to the Prime Minister to bring to his attention the whistleblower's allegations that the core assessment was "skewed against the claimant". Downing Street made no reply but simply passed the letter
Criticism of the Work Capability Assessment Nick Clegg's former policy director added: "Capability assessors too often have a culture of disbelief about disability, especially mental illness". Dr Paul Litchfield helped to design the WCA in 2006 and he later reviewed its performance for parliament. Of the design phase, he said: A review undertaken by occupational heath expert Professor Malcolm Harrington in 2010 found that the test was too reliant on "computer systems and drop-down menus" and "was not working as well as it should" — but he felt that the suggestions he was making would improve the process, if adopted by the DWP. In February 2011,