Disability experts have been told they must sign “gagging order” before joining a panel advising the Government over issues like welfare reforms.

Labour disability minister Sir Stephen Timms is set to lead a review of the process used to assess people for personal independence payments (PIP) – a key disability benefit worth up to £800 a month.

Meanwhile, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is launching a new Independent Disability Advisory Panel (IDAP) to share expertise on policy issues, such as the PIP review.

But panel members have been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), raising fears among PIP claimants that Labour’s benefit changes will be designed “in secret”. New Feature

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The DWP said the NDA was needed t

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