§ 7. Mr. Edward Daviesasked the Minister of National Insurance for what reason it has been decided that no further appeal tribunals will be held in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent; if he is aware of the inconvenience caused, especially to sick and disabled persons; and whether he will reconsider this decision.
§ Mr. PeakeThe office at Burslem is to be closed and the appeal tribunal has been transferred to the nearest office at Hanley, which will be rather more convenient for some appellants and involves only a slightly longer journey for the others.
§ Mr. DaviesAs this will involve some inconvenience for the classes of people I have mentioned, especially the sick and disabled, and since facilities were provided both in the old and in the new office for people living in the country districts, ought it not to be policy in these matters to provide facilities near at hand for sick and poor people who cannot afford the time to make inquiries?
§ Mr. PeakeI have written to the hon. Member about this matter, and he will be getting a letter from me in the course of a few hours. I would, however, point out that it would be impossible ever to move an office at all if it were a complete objection that some people would have to go a little further to get to it.
§ Dr. StrossCould the Minister tell us approximately how many appeals in a year are heard by the tribunal either at Hanley or the former one at Burslem?
§ Mr. PeakeThe information I have is that the Burslem appeal tribunal deals with about 60 cases every month, of which only about a dozen are cases of disabled or sick people.