§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many civil servants within his Department deal with industrial deafness cases; and if this number is expected to increase in expectation of individuals who are now eligible for benefits after the abolition of the five-year rule governing claims for industrial deafness benefit.
§ Mr. ScottIt is not possible to identify the number of staff currently engaged on industrial deafness cases as this type of work is dealt with alongside wider disablement benefits work. In the light of the additional claims and applications for review received so far following the Court of Appeal decision on the five-year rule for occupational deafness, we consider that these can be accommodated within existing local office resources.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals who have been rejected for claims as a result of the five-year rule governing claims for industrial deafness benefit have now been notified of the recent change as a result of the ruling by the Law Lords in October 1989.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many individuals who suffer from710W industrial deafness have reapplied for benefits now that the five-year restriction has been removed; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many people who were previously denied benefits under the former five-year rule governing claims for industrial deafness benefit have reapplied since the ruling of the Law Lords in October 1989 on good cause grounds.
§ Mr. ScottThis information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security why his Department has excluded the glass industry from its list of recommended industries for claims for industrial deafness.
§ Mr. ScottThe list of prescribed occupations for industrial deafness is based on recommendations by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. The council has made no specific recommendations concerning the glass industry.