THE writer of the of the acclaimed movie, I, Daniel Blake, has hit out at the “national disgrace” of a disabled woman being forced to crawl up the steps of a Scottish benefits assessment centre for an appointment.
Paul Laverty said the treatment of Maria Quinn was reminiscent of the “cruelty” portrayed in his film which won the top award, the Palme d'Or, at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Quinn, who is partially sighted and uses a walking frame said benefits staff called her in for an interview at the Cadogan Street site in Glasgow. However, Quinn said that when she asked to use a ramp she was told it was for wheelchair users only.
Quinn, 32, claimed she could only enter the building by “crawling up the two split-level stairs”.
Laverty said it was a "pretty powerful indictment of how the system still works nearly a year after I, Daniel Blake was released".
He said the row reminded him of parts of the film, which includes scenes with vulnerable claimants facing obstacles when seeking support.
Laverty said: "So we make our sick and vulnerable crawl. This is not some nightmarish metaphor, but the literal truth.
"When I heard Maria's story which I hope every politician in the country will listen to, many other faces of those I had interviewed prior to writing I, Daniel Blake came to mind. People humiliated and driven to breaking point by a systematically-cruel administration.
"The film has been mentioned a few times in the House of Commons, but nothing has been done about it nearly a year on."
He added: "But as a country we allow it to happen to our most vulnerable. It is a national disgrace.
"I hope that the Scottish Government, backed by the trade unions and staff working inside the DWP, claimants, plus grassroots supporters, can develop a more humane system within the limited welfare powers delegated to Holyrood.
"Unfortunately, in cases like Maria's this still comes under the UK system."
However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) disputed the claims made by Laverty and Quinn.
A DWP spokeswoman said: "We do not recognise this version of events. There is a ramp available at the Glasgow assessment centre – if people can’t use this, arrangements will be made to see them at an alternative location."
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