§ 73. Mr. Boardmanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware of the difficulties caused in areas of heavy industry by decisions that insured person referred for medical examination are fit for work only within narrowly prescribed limits, since such work is seldom available for them; and whether he will so amend his Regulations as to ensure that persons in that category in such areas are treated as unfit for work altogether.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am aware that difficulties can arise in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member, although I would have thought that they are unlikely to do so in the case of employed12W contributors in heavy industry. In the normal way when such people were no longer entitled to sickness benefit on the grounds that they were fit for work, they would, if no suitable work was available for them, become eligible for unemployment benefit. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind in which difficulty has arisen, I would be glad, if he will send me details, to look into it.