HC Deb 11 June 1956 vol 554 cc4-5
2. Mr. B. Taylor

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons in receipt of sickness benefit for six months or more during 1954 and 1955 from the Mansfield local office who have been referred to the regional medical officers of the Ministry of Health and have been declared capable of work.

Mr. Boyd-Charpenter

I regret that this information is not available in respect of particular areas.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Minister aware that some of the medical decisions of these regional medical officers of the Ministry of Health are giving concern not only to the patients but to the patients' doctors? I have been told by a constituent who was examined by one of these R.M.O.'s that he was declared capable of work so long as it did not involve heavy manual work, underground work, not much walking, and so on. In fact, as far as I can see, the only job he would be fit for is a watchmaker's striker?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I cannot possibly deal with a particular case here and now. If the hon. Member will send me details of this one, I will look into it. I can assure him, however, that the procedure is precisely the same as it was when he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that there has been no administrative action, as has sometimes been alleged recently, to tighten up these examinations by the R.M.Os.?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am aware of no change in the general procedure-certainly not in the direction of tightening up. I can understand, of course. that someone who gets an adverse decision naturally feels strongly about it, but I am bound to say that we get very few complaints.

11. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons resident in the borough of Finsbury who have been in receipt of sickness benefit for a period of 12 months of more during the year 1955-56, and who. in 1956, have been referred to the medical officers of the Ministry of Health and have been declared capable of work.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I regret that this information is not available in respect of particular local government areas.

Mr. Collins

Is the Minister aware that I have a silicotic ex-miner constituent, totally disabled since 1948, who last week was adjudged by the Minister's Department to be capable of light work provided he did not walk upstairs, work in a dusty or damp atmosphere, or at altitudes, move his arms, or, in fact do anything except breathe? For this, the man has been deprived of his sick pay. In view of the earlier Question which was asked, will the right hon. Gentleman look into this matter very seriously, with his colleagues, and assure us that there has been no new directive in matters of this kind?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have already told the House that the procedure remains as it has been for some years. Obviously, I cannot comment on a particular case which the hon. Gentleman puts to me across the Floor of the House, though I will say that all these cases are dealt with on a medical basis, I think, very conscientiously, by the regional medical officers of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. I will, of course, look into any case which any hon. Member sends to me, but I would not like for one moment to be thought to accept that these rules are administered oppressively or unfairly.