Tory plan to remove GP sick note powers criticised

Labour's economy minister in Wales has criticised UK government plans to strip GPs of their sick note powers and overhaul the disability benefits system.

Jeremy Miles told MPs that, while there were challenges around economic inactivity rates and long term sickness, it is not the approach he would take.

"I don't think that's the right thing to do and I fear it won't be effective either," he said.

The prime minister has said benefits have become a "lifestyle choice" for some, causing a "spiralling" welfare bill.

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Rishi Sunak wants to make it harder for some patients to obtain sick notes, officially called fitness to work notes, which confirm a valid reason for staying off work and eligibility for sick pay.

The proposal is part of a plan to tackle what he called the UK's "sick note culture", if the Conservatives win the UK general election.

Appearing before the Welsh Affairs Committee via video link on Wednesday, Mr Miles said: "My own view is that approaching it from the point of view of sick notes and limiting support for those with disabilities is approaching it very much from the wrong perspective."

"I think it's quite a complex area and working in as a bespoke way as you can, with those individuals who need support and help, I think is a much better more compassionate way of approaching it."

Mr Miles was responding to a question from the Newport West Labour MP Ruth Jones, who wanted to know how the Welsh government planned to deal with economic inactivity rates among young people and the UK government's recently announced reforms at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Mr Miles admitted that economic inactivity rates were "much higher than we would want them to be in Wales".

He also said that post-Covid there were "significant challenges" with increasing numbers of young people presenting with long-term sickness and that this was "very concerning".

The Welsh government's young person's guarantee was helping to address this, he added.