§ 28 and 29. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he is aware of the large increase in byssinosis in the Lancashire cotton area; and what steps he contemplates to enable claims to be more speedily dealt with;
23 (2) how many applications for industrial disease benefit on the ground of byssinosis have been submitted in the most recent twelve months convenient for computation; how many have been dealt with; with what result; and how many are still pending.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Lieut.-Commander S. L. C. Maydon)The number of claimants for disablement benefit on account of byssinosis examined during the year ending 30th June, 1962, was 627; of these 375 were diagnosed as suffering from the disease. The corresponding figures for the year ending 30th June, 1961, were 585 and 374 respectively. Separate figures are not kept for pending byssinosis cases. Every effort is made to see that claims are dealt with as speedily as possible.
§ Mr. HaleWhy are not figures kept of applications for pensions? It seems incredible that they are not. My information is that there is a considerable increase in applications, particularly from the Oldham area, which has a considerable spinning centre. Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is increasing dissatisfaction with the way in which these cases are handled?
A recent case in which I was engaged before the Commissioner—who behaved most admirably and gave a full and fair hearing—was an appeal on a question of fact against a finding that the deceased had died of byssinosis. This is contrary to the undertaking given to the House when the Act was passed. It means that Oldham cases may be tried in London in the absence of medical evidence. Is this not a serious situation?
§ Lieut.-Commander MaydonThere was some delay in the case the hon. Gentleman refers to because, as he knows, it was complicated and on two occasions went to appeal. But the final decision by the Commissioner was given 39 weeks after the pneumoconiosis medical panel's decision.
The hon. Gentleman asked why it was that pending byssinosis cases could not be separated. I thought I had explained that. Both pneumoconiosis and byssinosis cases go through the same procedure. Naturally, the documents relating to the cases state what the complaint is, but 24 they are not separated in the early stages when the cases are pending. To do so would cause unnecessary additional expense.
§ Mr. HaleIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I make no complaint of delay in the case I referred to? It is fair that I should add that at one stage it was postponed for four weeks to suit my convenience. I am concerned with the delay in medical examinations in Oldham following applications. If his Department has no record of the applications, I do not understand how it can tell the doctors when to examine the patients.
§ Lieut.-Commander MaydonI can only add that the average time to clear disablement benefit claims is eight weeks.