§ 57. Mr. Pooleasked the Minister of National Insurance in how many cases in the five months ending May, 1952, have insurance officers refused to accept the medical evidence of incapacity supplied in support of a claim.
§ The Minister of National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)I regret that there are no statistics of such cases.
§ Mr. PooleWhat further evidence would the right hon. Gentleman's Department require in support of a claim apart from evidence of the medical practioner who examines the patient, and on what authority do his officers refuse a claim when such evidence is forthcoming?
§ Mr. PeakeAs the hon. Gentleman knows, claims for benefit are accepted or rejected by the National Insurance Officer, who is one of the independent statutory authorities. In my opinion, it would be quite wrong to tie down the Insurance officer and compel him in every case to accept a medical certificate without question.