§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been made by claimants about their medical examinations in connection with incapacity benefit in the Yorkshire and Humberside region since April 1995. [16047]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Gunnell, dated 26 February 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many complaints have been made by claimants about their medical examinations in connection with Incapacity Benefit in the Yorkshire and Humberside region since April 1995.The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics are kept for each Medical Services Centre (MSC). Yorkshire and Humberside is dealt with by Leeds MSC. The Leeds MSC covers the Yorkshire Area Directorate and South Humberside District, part of Mercia Area Directorate. Statistics on complaints have only been kept by MSCs since September 1995 and are not broken down by Benefits Agency districts.From September 1995 to December 1996 the Leeds MSC received 285 complaints, during which time it dealt with 111,164 examinations. These figures are provisional and subject to change.I hope this reply is helpful.
§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many times has(a) a warning been issued, (b) disciplinary action been taken and (c) dismissal occurred (i) as a result of claimants' complaints and (ii) otherwise since the incapacity benefit we introduced. [16048]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Gunnell, dated 26 February 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many times has (a) a warning been issued, (b) disciplinary action been taken and (c) dismissal occurred (i) as a result of claimants' complaints and (ii) otherwise since the Incapacity Benefit (IB) was introduced.I have assumed your question refers to doctors involved in providing medical advice in connection with IB. The information is in the attached table.I hope this reply is helpful.313W
Benefits agency medical services doctors subject to disciplinary action April 1995 to date As a result of customer complaints Other Warnings issued 1 3 Other disciplinary action 0 1 Dismissal 1 1 Figures are provisional and subject to change. This excludes contracted self-employed, fee paid doctors for whom no formal disciplinary procedures exist.