HOW LONG WILL THIS GO ON?
Parliament has we understand split the OSSC from the DWP following a period of apparent confusion, placing it under the Tribunal Service but as we know, the independence needed has not resulted, nor has it eliminated malpractice.
We are not in any way blaming parliament but impartiality needs to be exactly that; impartial. That said we will continue passively to do what we can to assist appellants or those within the grievance procedure to find the redress or acknowledgment they seek. We are all in this together and invite you to email us with your thoughts:
We especially welcome comment and assistance from:
• Individuals anxious of unfair treatment or unsatisfactory service from the DWP seeking useful advice and support.
• Individuals who have already suffered unfair treatment wishing to share their experience that others might learn and ultimately benefit from that knowledge.
• Disgruntled employees or former employees of the DWP, the Appeals (Tribunal) Service including the Office of the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners, the Parliamentary Ombudsman service or Department for Constitutional Affairs who wish to join with us and blow the whistle on collective DWP mischief.
• Organizations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Welfare Rights staff under pressure to keep up with underhand tactics utilized by the DWP which they will not otherwise find written up in hearing decisions.
• Concerned citizens troubled by corruption and the lack of accountability by government and the judiciary.
• DWP employees caught up in corruption who recognize bullying is wrong and want to escape the mentality having perhaps been pressured or forced into such by their superiors or peers.
• M.P's in receipt of complaints from constituents about misconduct within the DWP who want to know more or for that matter are willing to lend us some moral support, to take up the cause even with a simple email.
G.P's and medical specialists fed up of cases of stress and worse arising from government led frustration of their patients.
DATA PROTECTION
An important issue to be raised by us is that of Data Protection, or rather the lack of it, by the DWP. Unless contributors wish to be identified, the one thing we want to assure anyone providing us with corroborative information is that we will sincerely not divulge private details to third parties.
We cannot say the same for those in the DWP who require being (as this government recently suggested of the DWP) “Named and Shamed” . (Source: Government statement 24 July 2006.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
You know what we think about the activities of the DWP in their illegal campaigns against members of the public but what do they say of themselves?
In an article regarding their internal Performance and Development System ( PDS ) the Public and Commercial Services Union ( PCS ) had these words to say:
“No confidence vote in DWP Senior Management…Senior management in DWP are behaving like “Victorian mill owners”…continually arrogant high handed tactics…in this dispute for the long haul …they have been proved wrong in that respect and our commitment to continue for justice…Senior management have a cavalier approach to industrial relations and the law…Ministers aren't listening, or don't care…breathtaking arrogance or downright stupidity from an Executive team…just how far out of touch they are…
Even if you are not attending the lobby of parliament, all PCS members should be writing to their local MP highlighting the problems, which we currently face in terms of endemic low pay coupled with a corrupt appraisal system.”
CPS lodged a claim against DWP management in the High Court over PDS .
Source: PCS Issued as DWP/BB/36/04/R
Campaign Against DWP Corruption comments:
Low pay is one thing; what about no pay as this outfit do for individuals set aside for persecution?
That said, the DWP have not been without their own widespread scandal including factory farming of personal data for identity theft. These issues as with all others raised here we hope to follow up in detail elsewhere on the site.
PARLIAMENT
Corruption within the DWP and its associated judiciary is not a party political issue however it appears Members of Parliament seem willing only to pay lip service to their constituents and are similarly being paid only lip service in return by the DWP. Why?
Are MP's setting aside that Parliament itself laid down the Regulations and associated legislation (as well as adopting the Human Rights Act 1998) by which these civil servants and members of the judiciary must abide? Given the independence of the judiciary there exists no means by which to call them to book except further appeal. This might likewise be a test for MP's to see if you truly are doing your job to represent your constituents in their uphill struggle as mere John's against this Goliath, with a seemingly out of control government department, for individuals own reasons, denying the public a fair and proper service.
Regarding other ongoing DWP failure in the CSA, here's a word from:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WORK AND PENSIONS
"A new system should promote greater personal responsibility.”
“We will throw the book at those people who are holding up two fingers to society and to their families in not discharging their financial responsibilities."
Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton, 24 July 2006.
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