To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 213W, on social security benefits: medical examinations, what guidance her Department issues to ATOS Medical assessors on work capability assessments. (318180)

The main guidance for examining Atos Healthcare professionals, who carry out the work capability assessments on behalf of the Department, is the Employment and Support Allowance handbook which has been developed in conjunction with the Chief Medical Adviser to the Department. This complements the training that the health care professionals receive to carry out the work capability assessment.