HC Deb 02 April 2001 vol 366 cc86-7W
28. Fiona Mactaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on medical assessments for Disability Living Allowance. [154887]

Mr. Bayley

Assessment of entitlement to Disability Living Allowance is made by non medical Benefits Agency staff known as Decision Makers. Evidence is gathered by the Decision Makers from a number of sources, one of which can include a medical examination carried out by a Medical Services doctor.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of decisions on initial claims for Disability Living Allowance were made on the basis of a medical assessment by an examining medical practitioner in each of the last five years. [155627]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

Percentage of decisions on initial claims for Disability Living Allowance, in each of the last five years, which were made on the basis of a medical assessment by an examining medical practitioner
Year Percentage
1996 34
1997 35
1998 34
1999 39
2000 40

Source:

DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of initial applications for Disability Living Allowance were successful in each of the last three years. [155626]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

Percentage of initial applications for Disability Living Allowance, in each of the last three years, which were successful
Year Percentage
1998 46
1999 47
2000 51

Source:

DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data.