The Holyrood Government today announced big changes to the way the people are assessed as to whether or not they are fit to work. If assessed as unfit they will be entitled to an Ability Support Allowance. The big change is in the way assessments are to be carried out. Before under the UK system assessments were carried out by a profit making company based in France (Atos who’s operating profits increased by 8% last year). This meant public money ending up in shareholders pockets. The new approach means no money will go to shareholders.

The Governments new system means assessments will be carried out by Occupational Therapists placed in local medical centres and paid for by funds previously used to pay the private company.  A Government spokesman said “This means that professional assessments will be carried out locally and we are creating several hundred new jobs for assessors. This means more jobs better assessment and reduced risk of false claims for our support allowance. The system is being brought in over two years region by region.