§ Sir Gilbert Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what results have been achieved in the treatment of Parkinson's disease by the drug L.-Dopa; and whether it is available to all National Health Service patients.
196Wwhat percentage is each of these numbers of the total annual claimants for each of these benefits; what proportion of appellants were successful, unsuccessful or had their case settled out of court; and what were the corresponding figures for cases brought before each of these tribunals during each of these years by officers of the relevant departments.
§ Mr. DeanIt is assumed that the hon. Member has in mind supplementary benefits (national assistance prior to 1966) and family income supplements (from 1971). The following table contains such of the information requested as is available. The small percentage unaccounted for each year in the table represents time-barred appeals and the very few cases which were references to the tribunal rather than appeals. Some of the latter were initiated by officers of the Department but numbers are not recorded.
§ Mr. AlisonL-Dopa is available under the National Health Service. In the current state of knowledge it is accepted that some patients with Parkinsonism benefit very considerably and some to a lesser degree; others cannot tolerate therapeutic doses.