§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims in Stoke-on-Trent, North for disability benefit and for reduced earnings allowance are currently pending; what is the average length of time claimants in Stoke-on-Trent, North are having to wait from the date when their claim is first submitted to the date when the medical examination is done; what is the average waiting time between the receipt by his Department of the medical examination report and the payment of benefit; if he will consider paying disability benefit and reduced earnings allowance in cases which are pending, and how many consultants are currently available to undertake medical examinations to claimants in Stoke-on-Trent, North.
§ Mr. ScottClaims from people living in Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency are dealt with by Stoke North local office, but their boundaries are not coterminous. The information which can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost is as follows.
As at 6 December, Stoke-on-Trent, North local office had 68 claims for disablement benefit and reduced earnings allowance at the stage of initial enquiries and which had yet to be medically examined.
Because payment of benefit is directly linked to an initial medical assessment of the degree of disablement, payment of benefit pending that assessment would not be appropriate.
There are 79 NHS consultants in the Stoke-on-Trent area who may be asked to carry out medical examinations of claimants.