§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, (1) pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, columns 635–36, what steps he has taken to investigate the reasons for his Department's medical advisers' delay in providing advice relating to the additive nature of age-related hearing loss; and when sensorineural hearing loss was introduced for war pension purposes; [15857]
(2) on what date the medical opinion on which his Department based its policy relating to sensorineural hearing loss for the purposes of war pensions prior to March 1996 was received; and from whom. [15862]
§ Mr. HealdThe war pensions scheme has no list of prescribed conditions. It has always been possible for a claim to be made for any disablement, including noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss.
Prior to 1996, the assessment of noise-induced hearing loss claims was based on advice from departmental medical officers given in December 1992. The approach taken following that advice was investigated during 1995 and 1996. The medical adviser who undertook the investigation concluded that, from 1 March 1996, there could no longer be any doubt that the general medical opinion was that age and noise-related hearing loss were no more than additive.
The 1995–96 investigation did not include an examination of whether the advice given by previous medical advisers in 1992 was reasonable at the time it was given. This question was investigated following the statement by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf s and the Royal British Legion's medical experts that the fact that noise and age-related hearing loss were no more than additive had been known for 30 years. That investigation has revealed that the advice given in 1992 was not scientifically based.
§ Mr. MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what medical conditions, in respect of which war pensions are payable, are not recompensed for deterioration; and what assessment he has made of the methods of evaluation of deterioration in respect of each such condition. [15858]
§ Mr. HealdA war pension may be awarded for any condition which is attributable to or aggravated by service. Any subsequent deterioration of that condition may also be compensated, providing the deterioration is due to service. Deterioration wholly unconnected with service cannot be compensated for under the war pensions scheme. Each case is considered on its individual circumstances and merits.
§ Mr. MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the changes in medical opinion of which his Department's advisers informed Ministers relating to noise-induced hearing loss in the last five years. [15859]
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§ Mr. HealdThe only occasion in the past five years on which Ministers have been advised of a change in medical opinion on noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss was in October 1996 when Ministers were advised that it had been shown beyond reasonable doubt that the effects of noise and age-related hearing loss were no more than additive.
§ Mr. MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 635, on the open letter sent to the Minister of State, Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish, on sensorineural hearing loss and war pensions, what reply he has sent to the letter; if he will publish that reply; and if he will make a statement. [15861]
§ Mr. HealdIn response to the letter from Professors Lutman and Davies, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish the Minister of State, has arranged to meet the Royal British Legion and its medical advisors on 12 March to discuss any remaining differences.