§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that insurance officers standardise their approach on invalidity benefit to professional and non-professional workers, and that 335W capability for suitable alternative employment is not considered until the end of the claimant's second year on invalidity benefit.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe insurance officer is the first of the independent adjudicating authorities and I cannot intervene in his decisions. Any claimant who is not satisfied with a decision of an insurance officer has a right of appeal. Insurance officers are bound by the relevant legislation and follow published case law on the question of capability for suitable alternative employment, as on other questions.