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War Disablement Pension
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the current arrangements for examinations of applicants for the war disablement pension, and if she will make a statement. [15344]
Mr. Denham: One of our key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. Queries on operational matters concerning the War Pensions Agency are for its Acting Chief Executive Mr. Steve Johnson. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from K. C. Caldwell to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 25 November 1997:
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The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the current arrangements for the medical examinations of persons claiming War Disablement Pension.
Most examinations, where considered necessary for the individual case, are conducted locally by War Pensions Examining Medical Practitioners, the majority of whom are General Practitioners.
The Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) who organise examinations for Social Security benefits are responsible for recruiting and training doctors to undertake medical examinations and for arranging these examinations for the War Pensions Agency (WPA). Doctors undertaking medical examinations for War Pensions must be registered with the General Medical Council and be experienced in medical examinations for Benefit purposes. BAMS are responsible for ensuring the satisfactory completion of the training of the doctors who conduct examinations for the WPA. The training of these doctors is based on the Handbook for Examining Medical Practitioners (War Pensions) which has been written and recently revised by Medical Advisors employed by the WPA. The WPA Medical Advisors make, on the medical evidence, decisions as to whether a condition is attributable to or aggravated by service and the degree of any disablement.
The monitoring of completed examination reports is the responsibility of the WPA. All medical examination reports are reviewed by the WPA's Medical Advisors. Any reports which do not fulfil the WPA's requirements are returned to BAMS. In addition to these arrangements the WPA is currently developing a structured monitoring scheme to provide formal feedback to BAMS on the general quality of the examining doctors' medical reports.
In the specialist area of hearing loss claims, audiometric examinations are conducted for the WPA by British Medical International, part of General Healthcare Group PLC. The reports from these examinations are considered by the WPA Medical Advisors as part of the evidence in these cases. These arrangements are formally monitored, both internally by the WPA Medical Advisors and through a regular external professional scrutiny.
In addition to War Pension medical examinations, the WPA also requests specialist and Regional Consultant medical examinations. Specialist appointments are arranged through BAMS who in many cases nominate a local specialist with suitable expertise. In some cases the WPA's Medical Advisors nominate a specialist, normally the specialist who has been responsible for the clinical care of the claimant/pensioner.
Regional Consultants are recognised authorities in their speciality and are appointed by the DSS Chief Medical Adviser. Regional Consultant examinations are requested by the WPA to resolve conflict of medical opinion and also in exceptionally complex cases. A list of Regional Consultants is held in the WPA and the WPA Medical Advisor is responsible for nominating the Regional Consultant. BAMS are responsible for arranging appointments on behalf of the WPA.
All the specialist and Regional Consultant reports are reviewed by the WPA's Medical Advisors. Any unsatisfactory reports are returned directly to the specialist or Regional Consultant. BAMS would be advised of any specialist who consistently provided unsatisfactory reports and use of that specialist's services would cease. Any Regional Consultant who consistently provided unsatisfactory reports would be notified to the Chief Medical Advisor with a view to removal from the list.
I am satisfied that these arrangements work satisfactorily.
I hope you will find my reply helpful.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of claimants of incapacity benefit are currently undertaking limited paid work on the grounds that the work is (i) voluntary and (ii) therapeutic. [15843]
Mr. Keith Bradley: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
It is estimated that 1 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients undertake paid work on the grounds that it is therapeutic.
Sources:
Lonsdale, S., Lessof C. and Ferris, G. (1993) "Invalidity Benefit; a survey of recipients, London: HMSO". This survey found that 2 per cent. of Invalidity Benefit recipients had ever done therapeutic work and fewer still were doing it at the time of the interview. The 1995-96 Family Resources Survey shows that 1 per cent. of Incapacity Benefit recipients had done any paid work in the week before the interview. Information is not collected directly on use of the permitted work provisions.
Welfare and Pensions Green Papers
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the planned dates of publication of the Green Papers on (a) welfare and (b) pension reform. [15828]
Mr. Field: It is our intention to publish a Green Paper on Welfare Reform at the turn of the year.
The first part of the Pensions Review ended on 31 October and we are now carefully considering the approximately 1,800 responses we have received from pensions providers, employers, employees, consumers, pensions experts and pensioners themselves. We intend to publish an initial framework for change in the first half of 1998. There will then be a period of further consultation before final, detailed proposals are developed.
Motability
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to increase the level of competition for the financing and administrative services provided by Motability Finance Limited. [15969]
Mr. Denham: Motability is an independent organisation and the administration of the Scheme is a matter for Motability's Governors.
We regard competition as a healthy measure in ensuring value for money and in line with the National Audit Office's recommendations, Motability's Governors are currently reviewing the scope for increasing the level of competition in the Scheme. This includes benchmarking for Motability's administrative services
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and a sub-committee of Governors are looking at funding of the Scheme. Competition must, however, bring long term benefit to Motability's disabled customers.
Mr. Clapham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former miners have been diagnosed to be suffering from (a) chronic bronchitis and (b) emphysema; and how many were diagnosed after April. [16477]
| Percentage disabled assessment | September 1997 to March 1997 | April 1993 to October 1997 | September 1993 to October 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-13 | 101 | 38 | 139 |
| 14-100 | 5,428 | 5,865 | 11,293 |
| Total (1-100) | 5,529 | 5,903 | 11,432 |
Source:
100 per cent. count from DSS BREM systems and DSS Central Data Unit. Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
Note:
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema, prescribed disease D12, was introduced from 13 September 1993.
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former miners have been rejected for a disablement award because they have failed the FEV1 test since April. [16478]
Mr. Denham: Since April 1978, 768 people have failed the FEV1 test, at a medical examination made in connection with a claim to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, for chronic bronchitis and emphysema (prescribed disease D12). This is the latest figure available and covers the period up to 31 October 1997.
Source:
100 per cent. count from Department of Social Security BREM system. Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
Industrial Disablement Benefit
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount paid in industrial disablement benefit to claimants in each of the last three years. [16395]
Mr. Denham: The information is in the table.
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 645 |
| 1995-96 | 670 |
| 1996-97 | 661 |
Source:
Social Security Departmental Report 1997.
Notes:
1. The figures include reduced earnings allowance.
2. The figures for 1994-95 and 1995-96 are actual spending, whilst that for 1996-97 is an estimate.
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