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Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what medical and scientific personnel and resources are utilised by the War Pensions Agency when it decides whether to award a pension to former service personnel who are claiming disablement because they participated in experiments in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. [34473]

Mr. Heald: This is a matter for Mr. Kevin Caldwell, chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from K. C. Caldwell to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 1 July 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the medical and scientific personnel and resources utilised by the War Pensions Agency when it decides whether to award a pension to former service personnel who are claiming disablement because they participated in experiments in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down.
Claims to War Pensions are considered individually and according to their specific circumstance. War Pension may be awarded when it is accepted that disablement is attributable to or aggravated by service (including participation in the tests).
War Pensions legislation provides that medical matters are determined by medical officers appointed or recognised for the purpose. Administrative officers acting on behalf of the Secretary of State confirm service details made in relation to the claim.
War Pension doctors are fully qualified medical practitioners with wide clinical experience. On entry they undergo prolonged training on all aspects of the War Pensions Scheme, including the law, policy and medicine in relation to War Pensions. This includes discussion and information relating to particular service zones and experiences. In addition they have access to a well stocked library which contains medical, scientific, and service (including historical) information.
War Pensions doctors base their adjudication on relevant medical evidence, which may include service medical details, and post service medical records. War Pensions claimants may be required to undergo a War Pensions medical examination or be seen and examined by an independent specialist accredited to an appropriate speciality. Where the medical issues are complex, or some conflicting evidence exists, the case may be referred to a Regional Consultant for examination and report or in some cases for a documentary opinion. This referral is accompanied by a full typewritten Statement of Case, containing all available relevant evidence. Regional Consultants are people of special eminence in their field of work.

2 Jul 1996 : Column: 414

In cases where service at the Clinical and Biological Defence Establishment is an issue, relevant information, whether service medical or scientific, is obtained from the Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
I hope you find my reply helpful.

Disability Living Allowance

Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of (a) the disability living allowance care component and (b) attendance allowance have had their benefits suspended during a period in hospital and residential care during each of the last two years. [34782]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 1 July 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claimants of (a) the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component and (b) Attendance Allowance (AA) have had their benefits suspended during a period in hospital and residential care during each of the last two years.
The information requested is not available in the format requested.
It is only possible to provide the number of suspensions for DLA care component at any one point in time. As at 31 May 1996 there have been 31,100 suspensions due to period spent in hospital or residential care.
Data is not held centrally for AA as the majority of cases are paid combined with another benefit by the District Offices. The information, therefore, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
I hope you find this reply helpful.

Mr. Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of the disability living allowance care component and attendance allowance have been overpaid benefit as a result of a stay in hospital or residential care during each of the past two years; in how many cases this overpayment was recoverable; and where an overpayment was recoverable, what was the total value of benefits overpaid. [34783]

Mr. Mitchell: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 1 July 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking has any claimants of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component and Attendance Allowance (AA) have been overpaid benefit as a result of a stay in hospital or residential care during each of the past two years; in how many cases this overpayment was recoverable; and where an overpayment was recoverable, what was the total value of benefits overpaid.
The information is not available in the format requested.
Figures for DLA overpayments due to a period of hospitalisation or residential care prior to July 1995 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. As a result of an enhancement to the computer system, figures are available from July 1995.

2 Jul 1996 : Column: 415

The figures below are from 1 July 1995 to 29 February 1996.

	Number of overpayments	Number recoverable	Value of recoverable overpayments (£)
Hospitalisation	2,715	1,704	455,049.01
Residential care	1,445	577	424,383.04
Total	4,160	2,281	879,432.05




Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

Figures for AA overpayments due to a period of hospitalisation or residential care prior to April 1996 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. As a result of an enhancement to the computer system, figures are available from April 1996.

The figures in the table are from 1 April 1996 to 26 June 1996.

	Number of overpayments	Number recoverable	Value of recoverable overpayments (£)
Hospitalisation	763	437	95,463.73
Residential care	604	315	146,045.97
Total	1,367	752	241,509.70

Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Mr. Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis he has issued letters and a leaflet to claimants of the disability living allowance mobility component concerning details of recent periods in hospital in advance of Parliament's decision on the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1996; and if he will make a statement. [34781]

Mr. Mitchell: This is a matter for Peter Mathison of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 1 July 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking on what basis he has issued letters and a leaflet to claimants of the Disability Living Allowance mobility component concerning details of recent periods in hospital in advance of Parliament's decision on the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Claims and Payments) Amendments regulations 1996; and if he will make a statement.
The Regulations in question are subject to negative resolution procedure. They were made on 4 June 1996 and laid before Parliament on 7 June 1996. The letters and leaflets in question were not issued to customers until 15 June 1996.
I hope you find this reply helpful.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many statutory instruments laid before Parliament by his Department in each of the last three years have been exempted from the requirement in section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee because they were made within six months of the coming into force of an Act of Parliament; and

2 Jul 1996 : Column: 416

if he will list each of the Acts of Parliament concerned with the number of statutory instruments affected in each case. [34074]

Mr. Burt: In the 12-month periods ending on 26 June 1994, 1995 and 1996, none, 11 and seven respectively, of which 11 were made under the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994, six under the Jobseekers Act 1995 and one under the Child Support Act 1995.

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each of the statutory instruments made under the Jobseekers Act 1995 which have been laid before Parliament with the date of laying and the date of coming into force in each case; how many further instruments the Government have in draft, out to consultation or otherwise in preparation to implement the Jobseekers Act 1995; and if he will consider introducing regulations to consolidate the statutory instruments relating to the jobseeker's allowance. [34075]

Mr. Roger Evans: Information on those statutory instruments which have been made under the Jobseekers Act and laid before Parliament, together with the coming into force date of each, is set out in the table. In addition, a number of statutory instruments which will be made under powers contained in the Jobseekers Act are currently in preparation. The regulations governing the back to work bonus and transitional provisions will be consolidated, but there are no current plans to consolidate any other jobseeker's allowance regulations.

			Date of coming
SI No.	Title	Date laid	into force
1995/3228	The Jobseekers Act 1995 (Commencement Order No. 1) Order 1995	(8)11 December 1995	12 December 1995 and 6 April 1996
1995/3276	The Jobseeker's Allowance (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 1995	20 December 1995	7 October 1996
1996/193	The Social Security (Back to Work Bonus) Regulations 1996	(8)1 February 1996	7 October 1996
1996/194	The Housing Benefit, Supply of Information and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 1996	(8)1 February 1996	1 April 1996
1996/195	The Employer's Contributions Reimbursement Regulations 1996	(8)1 February 1996	6 April 1996
1996/206	The Income Support (General) (Jobseeker's Allowance Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1996	(8)1 February 1996	7 October 1996
1996/207	The Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996	(8)1 February 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1126	The Jobseekers Act (Commencement No. 2) Order	(8)18 April 1996	22 April 1996
1996/1252	The Income Support (Pilot Scheme) Regulations 1996	(8)8 May 1996	8 July 1996
1996/1307	The Jobseeker's Allowance (Pilot Scheme) Regulations 1996	(8)13 May 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1345	The Social Security and Child Support (Jobseeker's Allowance) (Miscellaneous Consequentials) Regulations 1996	24 May 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1443	The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) (Amendment) Regulations 1996	7 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1460	The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Jobseeker's Allowance Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1996	11 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1509	The Jobseekers Act (Commencement No. 3) Order 1996	(8)10 June 1996	11 June 1996
1996/1510	The Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Supply of Information (Jobseeker's Allowance) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1996	14 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1511	The Social Security (Back to Work Bonus) (Amendment) Regulations 1996	17 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1515	The Jobseeker's Allowance (Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 1996	18 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1516	The Jobseeker's Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 1996	(8)11 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1517	The Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support (General) (Amendment) Regulations 1996	(8)11 June 1996	7 October 1996
1996/1518	The Social Security (Adjudication) Amendment Regulations 1996	(8)11 June 1996	7 October 1996
	The Jobseeker's Allowance (Pilot Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations 1996	10 June 1996	[Not yet debated]
	The Child Benefit, Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996	5 June 1996	[Not yet debated]

(8) Date made.

2 Jul 1996 : Column: 418

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