§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, if an insurance
208Whospitals; if not, why not; with whom they are accommodated; and what is the age range of the other patients.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo. The small number of female patients under age 18, the range of their intelligence and the different manifestations of their disorders, makes it impracticable to provide separate wards. They are accommodated as follows:
medical examiner gives an opinion that an invalidity pensioner is capable of work within certain limits, and the pensioner then wins an appeal before a tribunal, the pensioner can again be disallowed on the same grounds after a further medical examination without it being shown that his medical condition is better than it was when he won his appeal; if so, how many times this can be repeated; and at what intervals.
§ Mr. OrmeThe question whether a claimant to invalidity pension is incapable of work is decided by the independent authorities appointed under the Social Security Act 1975. These authorities are the insurance officer in the first instance and, on appeal, the local tribunal and the National Insurance Commissioner. In deciding the question, the independent authorities consider all the available evidence and, if fresh evidence that a claimant is in fact capable of work becomes available after a tribunal decision in the claimant's favour, the insurance officer can disallow benefit on those grounds. The number of times, and the intervals at which, entitlement is reviewed as a result of fresh evidence depend on the facts of the case. In the nature of things, it is improbable that fresh evidence will become frequently available at short intervals.