§ 69. Mr. Oliverasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what complaints he has received of the low assessments made under the provision of the Industrial Injuries Act in respect of injured workmen in receipt of disability benefit; and whether he will have this matter reviewed, with a view to the basis of assessment being increased, and a more generous interpretation given in respect of loss occasioned by loss of faculty.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI receive from time to time, as one would expect, complaints from people whose assessments are not as high as they think they ought to be. Assessments are made by independent medical boards and, on appeal, by Medical Appeal Tribunals. For certain categories the assessments are as laid down by the Hancock Committee in 1947 and accepted by my then predecessor. I have no reason to doubt that assessments generally are made in accordance with the degree of loss of faculty, and I do not think that a review such as the hon. and learned Member suggests would serve any useful purpose.