§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is now able to make a statement about the introduction of new rules governing rights of appeal to medical appeal tribunals by people whose claims for industrial disablement benefit for pneumoconiosis or byssinosis have been disallowed following adverse decisions by pneumoconiosis medical boards.
§ Mr. OrmeI am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that new rules are to be introduced relaxing the present limits on rights of appeal to medical appeal tribunals in pneumoconiosis and byssinosis cases, so that there will be a right of appeal where there have been two disallowances and one year has elapsed since the first of them. The present requirements are four disallowances and a period of two years. Regulations to give effect to the changes will be introduced as soon as possible.
The changes are in line with a recommendation by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. They will provide a much greater number of people with a right of appeal and mark a substantial relaxation of the present limits. It is not yet possible to remove the restrictions completely, but the position will be kept under review.