§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each Benefits Agency district office in Birmingham(a) how many people were in receipt of (i) invalidity benefit and (ii) disability premium at the beginning of each of the last three financial years, (b) how many people (1) in receipt of invalidity benefit and (2) in receipt of disability premium were referred to a regional medical officer for a medical examination in each of the last three financial years and how many were found to be (x) incapable of work, (y) fit for work within limits and (z) fit for work.
§ Mr. ScottThis 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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 11 July 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about benefit recipients in Birmingham.The information is not available in the format requested. This is because Benefit Agency (BA) District boundaries do not correspond exactly with county or borough boundaries.Birmingham postal districts B1 to B45 are dealt with by the BA Districts of Birmingham, Chamberlain, Birmingham Heartlands, Birmingham North West, Birmingham South East and Birmingham South West collectively. Other Birmingham postal districts are dealt with by BA Districts which also cover areas outside the Birmingham grographical region. Statistics relating to recipients of Invalidity Benefit (IVB) and Disability Premium payable with Income Support dealt with by these Districts and who were resident in a Birmingham postal district could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.At Appendix 1, I have provided the numbers of people claiming IVB in each of the Birmingham Districts covering postal districts B1 to B45. The figures show the position on the last working day of March in each year from and including 1992. This information was obtained from a monthly 100% clerical count of cases in each District's offices, and represents the most accurate statistics available to show the position at the beginning of each financial year.No corresponding information can be provided for March 1991. IVB recipients were not identified separately until May 1991. Prior to this date, numbers of IVB cases were aggregated with Sickness Benefit cases. In addition, there is no requirement for Districts to retain statistics relating to numbers of claims for more than two years.The statistics provided for IVB recipients to include a small number of customers who have claimed but are not receiving benefit; eg. where there is underlying title to IVB but a higher, overlapping benefit is in payment.At Appendix 2 I have provided numbers of people receiving Disability Premium with their entitlement to Income Support 575W from the BA Birmingham Districts on the last working day of March each year since 1992. Statistics relating to Income Support recipients are not routinely collected in relation to financial years. The figures provided represent the most accurate available to reflect the position on the dates in question.Information regarding numbers of recipients of Invalidity Benefit and Disability Premium referred to the Medical Reference Service of the Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS), (formerly the Regional Medical Service), in the last three financial years; and the outcomes of any medical examinations; is only available at disproportionate cost.BA Districts in Birmingham refer cases to the BAMS, Birmingham, reference office. However, this office also receives references from a much larger geographical area. Such information as is available relating to the Birmingham reference office has been provided at Appendix 3. These statistics have only been maintained since 1 January 1993 and therefore no earlier information is available.BAMS provide an opinion on a customer's capacity for work. However, the decision on this question lies with the Adjudication Officer (AO), the independent adjudication authority. The AO considers the BAMS report along with all other available evidence.Where the customer has a regular employment, BAMS provide an opinion on capacity for work in that regular employment and any suitable alternative work. Statistics relating to numbers of cases found incapable of work; fit for suitable alternative work; and fit for work; by an AO following reference to BAMS, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Appendix 3 References cleared at BAMS Birmingham reference office 1 Period 2 Total cleared 3 Incapable of work 4 Capable of suitable alternative work 5 Capable of work 6 Others Quarter ending 31 March 1993 21,602 17,311 1,667 410 2,214 Quarter ending 30 June 1993 24,383 19,681 1,785 315 2,602 Quarter ending 30 September 1993 23,087 17,785 2,025 340 2,937 Quarter ending 31 December 1993 23,660 18,124 2,258 355 2,923 Quarter ending 31 March 1994 26,350 18,697 2,918 315 4,420