§ 13. Mr. Douglas Houghtonasked the Minister of National Insurance what decisions were reached by regional medical 180 officers in the 202,188 cases referred to them for second medical opinion in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1949, and the 75,189 referred to them in the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsAs the answer contains a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The particulars expressed as percentages are as follow:
| Cases submitted to Regional Medical Officer | ||
| Year ended 30th September, 1949 | Year ended 30th September, 1948 | |
| Accepted as incapable without examination after consultation with claim ant's doctor, or found incapable of work on examination | 48 | 41 |
| Incapable of normal occupation but not incapable of alternative work | 4 | 5 |
| Not incapable of work | 16 | 13 |
| Failed to attend examination or submitted evidence of recovery before examination | 32 | 41 |
§ The reports of regional medical officers do not constitute decisions on claims for benefits but are evidence which, along with the certificates rendered by the claimant's own doctor, would be taken into account by the statutory authorities in determining the claim.