HC Deb 09 July 1981 vol 8 c210W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rules cover a medical tribunal's rights to order disclosure of a person's medical records to the person or to his medical or legal representatives.

Mrs. Chalker

The evidence produced to medical appeal tribunals appointed for the purposes of the Social Security Act is normally made available to those whose cases are under consideration and to their representatives. Where, however, the tribunal chairman is of the opinion that the disclosure of some medical advice or evidence would be harmful to a claimant's health, regulations provide that its disclosure to the claimant shall not be required even though the tribunal is entitled to take it into account for the purpose of arriving at its decision.

The disclosure of evidence produced to the medical tribunals appointed under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 is governed by similar provisions.