HC Deb 25 November 1963 vol 685 cc28-9
37 and 38. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) in how many appeals made by him against the decisions of medical boards on industrial injuries in North Staffordshire he was successful; and whether he will give the figures for all cases when the appeal came from the injured worker in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963;

(2) how many appeals were made by him against the decisions of medical boards on industrial injuries benefit in North Staffordshire for the years 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and to the end of September, 1963.

Mr. Wood

I assume that the hon. Lady has in mind my power, which is exercised in the interests both of claimants and of other contributors, to refer decisions of medical boards to the medical appeal tribunal.

Records are not kept in a form which enables this information to be given for particular counties or parts of counties, but I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT some figures relating to the Midland Region as a whole.

Mrs. Slater

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is regrettable that this information is not available in North Staffordshire, in view of the prevalence there of pneumoconiosis? Is he further aware that there is, particularly among the trade unions, a very strong feeling that the number of these cases, in respect of which the Minister uses his powers, is increasing to the detriment of the injured worker?

Mr. Wood

The only reason for my referring these decisions is that there

DECISIONS OF MEDICAL APPEAL TRIBUNAL:MIDLAND REGION
(1) Disablement benefit—disablement question
Appeals by claimants References by direction of the Minister
Year Total Favourable to claimant Un-favourable or no change Total Favourable to claimant Un-favourable to claimant No change
1959 … 1,617 669 948 612 218 267 127
(41.4%) (58.6%) (35 6%) (43.6%) (20.8%)
1960 … 1,605 683 922 578 174 281 123
(42.6%) (57.4%) (30.1%) (48.6%) (21.3%)
1961 … 1,332 565 767 421 127 217 77
(42.4%) (57.6%) (30.2%) (51.5%) (18.3%)
1962 … 1,274 534 740 637 212 317 108
(41.9%) (58.1%) (33.3%) (49.8%) (16.9%)
1963 (to September) 1,035 481 554 700 915 287 98
(46.5%) (53.5%) (45.0%) (41 .0%) (14.0%)
(2) Injury benefit and disablement benefit—diagnosis and recrudescence questions
Appeals by claimants References by direction of the Minister
Year Total Medical Board decisions upheld Medical Board decisions reversed Total Medical Hoard decisions upheld Medical Board decisions reversed
1959 … … … 26 21 5 2 2 —
(81%) (19%) (100%)
1960 … … … 47 30 17 8 3 5
(64%) (36%) (38%) (62%)
1961 … … … 46 30 16 13 7 6
(65%) (35%) (54%) (46%)
1962 … … … 40 23 17 19 7 12
(57%) (43%) (37%) (63%)
1963 … … … 46 28 18 11 6 5
(to September) (61%) (39%) (55%) (45%)