§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by region for(a) February 1992–93, (b) February 1993–94 and (c) February 1994 to date, the total number of claimants for invalidity benefit who have been examined by a doctor from the Benefits Agency medical service in each region; how many of these claimants were subsequently found fit for work and their benefit disallowed; how many of those claimants whose benefit was disallowed appealed against the decision; and how many were successful.
§ 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 Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 18 July 1994:
53WThe Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking, for February 1992–93, February 1993–94 and February 1994 to date, about the total number of claimants for Invalidity Benefit who have been examined by a doctor from the Benefits Agency Medical Services in each region; how many were found fit for work and their benefit disallowed; how many subsequently appealed against the decision; and how many were successful.The information regarding numbers of recipients of Invalidity Benefit (IVB) examined by a doctor from the Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS), (formerly the Regional Medical Service), in the periods requested and the outcomes of such medical examinations, is not available in the format requested. This is because the information relating to IVB is aggregated with other incapacity benefits. Similarly, statistics are not available relating to the numbers of cases found fit for work following examination by a BAMS doctor and who have their benefit disallowed by an Adjudication Officer (AO); and have appealed against the decision; and how many were successful. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.BAMS provide an opinion on a customer's capacity for work. However, the decision on this question lies with the AO, the independent adjudication authority. The AO considers the BAMS report along with all other available evidence.The information which is available relating to examination by doctors from BAMS is provided at Appendix 1.This information is collated quarterly and therefore does not correspond exactly with the periods requested. Additionally, the statistics have only been maintained since 1 January 1993 and therefore no earlier information is available.I hope you find this reply helpful.
BA Medical services reference work SB/IVB/SDA cases examined and where the opinion was capable of work Reference office 1 January 1993 to 31 March 1993 1 April 1993 to 30 June 1993 1 July 1993 to 30 September 1993 1 October 1993 to 31 December 1993 1 January 1994 to 31 March 1994 Examined Found capable of work1 Examined Found capable of work1 Examined Found capable of work1 Examined Found capable of work1 Examined Found capable of work1 Inverness 243 66 253 86 318 109 296 113 232 50 Aberdeen 174 38 318 102 267 62 266 63 219 65 Dundee 1,021 257 1,070 281 1,160 332 914 258 1,182 212 Glasgow 8,227 2,847 6,514 2,182 5,151 2,130 9,681 2,072 6,508 2,497 Edinburgh 1,038 470 1,209 617 2,777 1,124 2,170 810 1,597 664 Newcastle 6,632 2,650 6,484 2,841 7,943 3,409 6,392 2,815 6,497 2,702 Leeds 11,030 4,826 11,361 4,726 14,230 6,047 13,939 5,809 13,896 5,951 Bottle 6,288 2,335 2— 2— 7,702 2,750 20,372 2,463 7,645 2,761 Manchester 6,819 2,213 6,716 2,379 8,501 3,440 6,166 2,244 7,146 2,425 Nottingham 3,700 1,474 3,569 1,465 4,642 1,804 4,537 1,884 4,331 1,898 Birmingham 7,361 2,077 6,763 2,100 7,944 2,365 7,685 2,613 9,970 3,233 Wembley 6,493 2,577 5,264 1,869 6,429 2,831 6,043 2,827 8,527 3,725 Sutton 4,778 2,039 4,698 1,888 5,612 2,263 5,843 2,328 6,811 2,473 Bristol 3— 3— 3— 3— 5,844 2,501 3,473 1,401 4,139 1,699 Cardiff 8,147 2,861 9,016 3,375 6,373 2,468 8,005 2,322 8,352 2,523 1 This column includes recipients who were considered either capable of following their own occupation or of undertaking suitable alternative work. 2 Statistics not available. 3 Bristol office not yet open. Statistics for Bristol are aggregated with Birmingham.