Scope response to the appointment of Sir Philip Green as Government adviser

The appointment of Sir Philip Green as an adviser on spending cuts is clear recognition by the Government that they need some help with the mammoth task ahead to ensure they avoid potential blunders.

If this appointment is a tacit acknowledgement that in some areas the Government may lack the expertise required then we suggest that one of the areas that Sir Philip needs to look at will be the Government approach to reforming incapacity benefit and disability living allowance.

We believe that the current approach to welfare reform will have serious unforeseen consequences and a significantly negative impact upon disabled people and their families. Not only that, but the mistakes the Government look set to make, based on ill-informed assumptions around the realities of disabled people lives, will end up costing the public purse far more and will create greater levels of dependency.

Sir Philip, we are on hand to advise you if you would like a chat. Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne, alternatively we can put you in touch with disabled people who would be delighted to pitch in and lend a hand to look at the figures and try to help you avoid some of the economic elephant traps that are around the corner.

Richard Hawkes

Chief Executive

Scope