Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon. Medical Adviser, ME Association
APPG on M.E. Secretariat
APPG on ME:
Meeting about DWP benefits and other financial issues on Wednesday 7th October
Please invite your MP to attend!
The next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on ME, where work will continue on the APPG Report into key issues affecting people with ME, will take place on Wednesday 7th October at 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
This will again be a virtual meeting – so that MPs can attend from outside Westminster using Zoom.
Members will be hearing three presentations from:
- Ann Innes, Welfare Rights Adviser, who also advises the ME Association on DWP benefits
- Dr William Weir – who will be speaking about problems faced by people who are making claims on income protection policies and other insurance based payments for sickness or disability
- A person with ME will be speaking about their experience with the DWP benefit system
The presentations will be followed by questions and discussion.
We obviously want to have a good attendance from MPs so could people please contact their MP by email to notify them about this meeting and obviously let them know about any particular DWP benefit issue that you would like raised.
Please note that the APPG does not require any more information on individual problems that people are experiencing with DWP benefits for the purpose of this meeting.
Your MP can obtain details on how to join the meeting by contacting Carol Monaghan MP, Chair of the APPG, at:
carol.monaghan.mp@parliament.uk
How to find contact details for your MP:
https://members.parliament.uk
What is an APPG?
‘APPGs allow campaign groups, charities, and other non-governmental organisations active in the field to become involved in discussions and influence politicians. Often a relevant charity or other organisation will provide a secretariat for the APPG, helping to arrange meetings and keeping track of its members.’
Source: Wikipedia
‘All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.’
Source: UK Parliament
Background:
- 2019 Parliamentary briefing paper on key issues facing people with ME
- 2019 House of Commons debate on ME
- June meeting on children and young people: https://meassociation.org.uk/2020/06/focus-on-young-people-at-next-meeting-of-westminster-appg-on-me-10am-16-june-2020/
- APPG Early Day Motion – Research and supporting people with Long COVID-19: https://meassociation.org.uk/2020/09/early-day-motion-researching-and-supporting-people-with-long-covid-19-symptoms/
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