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Disability Living Allowance
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps she is taking to ensure fair medical evaluation of people claiming disability benefits.[4366]
Mr. Denham: As part of our general review of Social Security provision, we will be looking at a number of eligibility issues including the requirements for medical assessment for benefit purposes. A key priority will be to ensure that procedures for determining entitlement are fair and that claimants receive an efficient and high quality service.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the powers of the Independent Tribunal Service in respect of the disability appeal tribunal system with particular reference to the case of Mr. M. McCall of Broughton.[4367]
Mr. Denham: We intend to bring forward legislation to improve current decision making and appeals arrangements in the Social Security system. Further details will be announced in due course.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons the mobility component of the disability living allowance is restricted to people over the age of five years; and if she will make a statement. [5590]
Mr. Denham: We are committed to a review of Social Security with the objective of reducing poverty and welfare dependency and to provide work incentives. Provision for disabled people will form part of that review. We will announce the details in due course.
The mobility component of disability living allowance is paid primarily to help people become independently mobile. Children under the age of five cannot be independently mobile as they need guidance and supervision whilst out of doors.
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Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations she has received on changes to the procedure for DSS medical examinations for claimants; and if she will make a statement. [4357]
Mr. Field:
I have received a number of representations about DSS medical assessments from a number of groups representing sick and disabled people, other interested organisations and DSS staff representatives. as part of our general review of Social Security provision we will be looking at a number of eligibility issues including the requirements for medical assessment for benefit purposes. Key priorities will be to ensure that procedures for determining entitlement are fair and that claimants receive an efficient and high quality service and that taxpayers' funds are fully protected.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will set a maximum time for the hearing of appeals to the social security and other related appeals tribunals as part of the Citizen's Charter Initiative; and if she will make a statement. [5993]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
Modernising the Social Security system is one of our key priorities. We will streamline services to provide better, simpler more efficient services to clients. We intend to bring forward legislation to improve current decision making and appeals arrangements for all Social Security matters. Further details will be announced in due course.
Mr. Alan Keen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she expects to receive the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority's first annual report; and if she will make a statement. [6358]
Mr. Denham:
We have laid the first report of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) before both Houses today. It covers the first 12 months of OPRA's existence in which it made the necessary preparations to take up its statutory responsibilities on 6 April 1997.
OPRA has the leading role in helping to ensure that the interests of all members of occupational pension schemes are safeguarded. we are pleased that the efforts made by the Authority during its start up year enabled it to be fully operational from day one.
Dr. Tony Wright :
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will allow West Mercia Services to make an in-house bid to continue to provide the services it currently undertakes; [4980]
Mr. Field:
West Mercia Services are part of the Department's Accommodation and Office Services project. This is one of a range of initiatives the Department of Social Security is engaged in to test the value for money of involving external contractors. We
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will review these initiatives, including Partnerships Schemes, in the light of our objectives for modernising the delivery of the welfare system; the implications for customer service, staff and the taxpayer; our commitment to work within the announced spending totals for the first
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two years of Government; our aim of getting best value for public money; the scope to apply the private sector's expertise, discipline and economies of scale in procuring public services and securing investment; and the flexibility for government to make changes at a later date.
(2) if she will allow in-house bids for departmental contracts. [4988]