§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the numerical targets for Benefits Agency medical service doctors in respect of the number of medical tests in connection with applications for incapacity benefit(a) in Scotland, and (b) in Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.
§ Mr. HagueThe administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 8 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the numerical targets for Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS) doctors in respect of the number of medical tests in connection with applications for Incapacity Benefit in Scotland, Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency (BA) Area Directorates (ADs) 4 and 5.The planning of procedures to deal with referrals to the BAMS is not yet complete and, accordingly, the number of cases to be seen by each doctor is not known.It will be the nature of the cases to be seen which will determine the number seen each day by a doctor as opposed to the area in which the customer resides.I hope you find this reply helpful.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency medical service doctors will be employed in the medical examination centres in Scotland, Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.
§ Mr. HagueThe administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 8 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of doctors to be employed by the Benefits Agency medical Service in the medical examination centres in Scotland, Strahtclyde and the Benefits Agency Districts of Area Directorates 4 and 5 of the Scotland and Northern Territory.In 1995, Scotland will have approximately 70 full time equivalent doctors, in addition to 19 full time medical advisers, all of whom will all be available to examine customers in the medical examination centres. The doctors will be available to examine where needed and will not be based rigidly in one specific location.I hope you find this reply helpful.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated benefit saving of the new test, including disability premium recipients in(a) Scotland, and (b) Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.
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§ Mr. HagueEstimates of benefit savings of the new test by region are not available.
Estimated benefit savings in Great Britain from applying the new medical test to existing recipients of invalidity benefit, new recipients of incapacity benefit and both new and existing recipients of a disability premium in the income-related benefits are shown in the table:
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Savings from medical test (£ million) 210 700 1,000 Note:
Estimates rounded to the nearest £10 million, expressed at constant 1993–94 prices. Estimates include income-related benefits offsetting costs.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of current invalidity benefit recipients are to be exempt from the new test for incapacity benefit by virtue of being aged 58 years or over, by virtue of being in receipt of disability living allowance higher care component; and what is the estimate of the number of exemptions being deemed under the prescribed conditions listed in the report, "Incapacity for Work".
§ Mr. HagueWe estimate that at April 1995, the number of invalidity benefit recipients aged 58 or over and in receipt of invalidity benefit continuously since 1 December 1993 will be around 738,000.
It is not possible to make an estimate of the number of existing invalidity benefit claimants who are in receipt of
County Weather Station 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 Dorset Bournemouth — — 1 — — Hampshire Southampton — — — — — East Sussex Herstmonceux — — 1 — — West Sussex Gatwick Airport 1 — 2 1 — Kent Manston — — — 1 — Berkshire Easthampstead 1 — 3 1 1 In addition, cold weather payments were made on a national basis irrespective of recorded temperatures for the two weeks 1 February 1991 to 14 February 1991.