Back-to-work tests are unjust, says Archbishop

The Government’s back-to-work welfare assessments have been attacked by Scotland’s leading Catholic cleric.

The Most Reverend Philip Tartaglia, the Archbishop of Glasgow, has written to the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, to “speak out against injustice” over his reforms.

The Archbishop reserved special mention for cases where terminally-ill people have been summoned to assessments by Atos and then had benefits stopped.

“My concern is as a bishop whose people are suffering,” he said. “Those affected are often weak and without means.” His letter went on: “People’s human dignity is being trampled upon and glaring errors are being made.”

A DWP spokesman said reviews and work with medical experts and charities had considerably improved the work capability assessment since 2010.