§ 6. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons were examined by the pneumoconiosis panels in the latest year for which figures are available; what percentage of the claims was rejected; how many of those who were rejected appealed and how many had their appeals allowed; and in which areas was there no case of any appeal succeeding.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn the year ending 26th December, 1958, 15,130 persons were examined by the pneumoconiosis medical panels following claims for benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts. Of these, 54 per cent. were rejected on X-ray examination, and a further 22 per cent. were found not to be suffering from pneumoconiosis after clinical examination. In the same year, 617 appeals against disallowance on X-ray examination were dealt with and 47 were successful. Only in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area with 18 appeals was no appeal successful.
§ Dr. StrossHas the right hon. Gentleman noted that if these figures are looked at carefully and compared with similar figures given in previous years, only a very small number of people ever appeal and of those who do appeal only an infinitesimal number seem to be successful? Is it not very disturbing for people in some areas who go to appeal feeling that they have no chance whatever because no case is ever successful?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think the hon. Gentleman is entitled to draw that deduction. Indeed, I have often heard precisely the opposite approach. The prevalence of a large number of successful appeals has often been quoted as casting a doubt on the validity of the original decision. At least in these cases that argument cannot be deployed.