To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any weight given by Capita to psychiatric reports and diagnoses provided by applicants to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme; and the circumstances in which its assessment may differ from the conclusions of an applicant's treating clinician.

Each case referred from the Victims’ Payments Board to Capita is assigned to a Clinical Assessor (CA) who will conduct an Initial Review (IR) of an application to the Scheme and any medical evidence an applicant may have provided.

The CA will then decide whether: (i) further evidence is required; or (ii) the report can be completed using the evidence at hand; or (iii) a consultation is needed.

An independent psychological assessment is conducted when the CA has either not been able to confirm a diagnosis or working diagnosis for the psychological injuries attributed to the relevant incidents or when the psychiatric diagnosis documented in the available medical records is not clearly linked to the incidents that have been cited on the application.

The final psychological report is used to assist the CA by providing appropriate professional information in context. It forms an important component of the overall assessment of permanent disablement and is considered alongside all other relevant information.