On Friday after attending a meeting with the Chief Superintendent at Bury’s new police station. I attended a meeting at Adullam Homes Housing Association on Bolton Road in Bury. Adullam was set up in Birmingham in 1972 and is now a national organisation. Their mission is to provide ‘high quality accommodation, and housing related services, for those needing additional support in their lives.’
I met with a group of their clients and they had the opportunity to question me about any matters of concern to them . Their principal concerns were about the changes which are being made to the benefits system and I was able to explain what I know about the way the new system will work. As I explained to them it can not be right that in a Country that has one of the most comprehensive healthcare systems in the World, which is free at the point of delivery, we have two and a half million people on Incapacity Benefit who are apparently incapable of working. As a Society we can and must do better. Of course there are unfortunately individuals who because of physical and/or mental incapacity are unable to work but I do not accept that this group numbers 2.5million. Further it is perfectly reasonable to do what the Government is proposing to arrange for each person claiming this benefit to attend for a new independent assessment to see whether they are capable of doing any work.
Later on Friday I held a surgery at my constituency office. On saturday after taking CeeCee to his outdoor training class I had a meeting about the W.O. Street Charitable Trust where we are still trying to persuade Barclays to retire as Trustees so that new Trustees can takeover and more money will be available for local charities.
In the afternoon I attended Gigg Lane where the Shakers triumphed in their first round FA Cup tie against Exeter despite Exeter being in the league above.
On Sunday after attending church at St.Anne’s I attended the Craft Show organised by the Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted Persons at Ramsbottom Civic Hall. I then visited the Autumn Show of the Ramsbottom Horticultural Society at Ramsbottom Cricket Club.
David Nuttall 
‘As I explained to them it can not be right that in a Country that has one of the most comprehensive healthcare systems in the World, which is free at the point of delivery, we have two and a half million people on Incapacity Benefit who are apparently incapable of working. As a Society we can and must do better.’
Whilst I agree entirely in principle, as one of these people (currently at any rate), might I suggest that it would be helpful if one didn’t have to wait six months to see a specialist (or rather, one of his ‘team’)? And that, in the meantime, one is not given completely the wrong information by the DWP? And just possibly that the assessment might at least be based on some information from the person’s GP?
To be in pain is unpleasant, but to be stuck in limbo is faintly ridiculous..