HC Deb 27 July 1977 vol 936 cc287-90W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Disablement Income Group concerning question on the application form for the disabled married woman's non-contributory invalidity pension; and what steps he is taking to ensure that questions on the application form will neither mislead nor distress applicants.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question yesterday. I and my officials have had a valuable series of contacts with the Disablement Income Group about the procedures for obtaining the evidence that will be required by the independent statutory authorities in deciding claims by disabled housewives for non-contributory invalidity pension. I have explained in these contacts that the basic evidence obtained must cover in some detail not only the woman's physical or mental impairments but also how these interact with her home situation and thus handicap her for performing her normal household duties. It is put to me that the combined leaflet and claim form could be improved and we shall certainly have this in mind when a reprint is required.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether disabled married women being assessed for eligibility for the non-contributory invalidity pension will (a) be examined by their own general practitioners, or (b) be able to elect to be examined by their own general practitioners;

(2) whether he intends to instruct medical practitioners, who are to assess disabled married women for eligibility for non-contributory invalidity pension, to identify themselves to applicants and to leave with applicants their names and addresses.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Where a medical report is required in order to decide a claim from a married woman for noncontributory invalidity pension, her family doctor will be invited to make any necessary examinations and to report. The doctor will contact the claimant before he visits her. The system will be reviewed in the light of experience.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in assessing disabled people for eligibility for the mobility allowance, every effort is made to meet the desires of applicants in respect of their being examined by a medical practitioner of their own sex; and, if no such effort is now made, whether he will take steps to ensure that disabled people can elect to be examined by a medical practitioner of the same sex as themselves.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I can assure my hon. Friend that whenever an applicant for mobility allowance expresses a wish to be examined by a medical practitioner of his or her own sex this is respected in almost all cases. In the rare case where it may not be possible, alternative arrangements for examination can be made which are acceptable to the applicant.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether ing disabled people for eligibility for attendance allowance, every effort is made to meet the desires of applicants in respect of their being examined by a medical practitioner of their own sex and to take account of religious convictions of applicants which might preclude their accepting any medical practitioner; and whether the same will apply in respect of assessing disabled married women for eligibility for non-contributory invalidity pension.

Mr. Alfred Morris

With the claimant's own doctor providing medical evidence for claims for non-contributory invalidity pension for married women, the problems envisaged in my hon. Friend's Question are unlikely to arise. However, if for any reason such a problem does arise the Department will seek to respect the claimant's wishes in the matter, as it already does in attendance allowance claims.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what differences there are between current assessment procedures in respect of entitlement to contributory and non-contributory invalidity pension and the procedures proposed in respect of assessment for the disabled married woman's non-contributory invalidity pension; and what are the reasons for any such differences.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The normal evidence of incapacity for paid work is a "doctor's statement" on which the doctor records his advice to the patient to refrain from work. This evidence would not be sufficient to decide whether a married woman is also incapable of her normal household duties. A claim form and, normally, also a medical report will be required by the independent statutory authorities in order to judge whether her degree of incapacity for normal household duties in her home environment qualifies her for the new benefit.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in assessments for eligibility for the attendance allowance by medical practitioners appointed by the Attendance Allowance Board, applicants can have their own general practitioners, solicitors, friends, relatives or companions with them during the examination; and whether the same is to apply in connection with assessments for the disabled married woman's noncontributory invalidity pension.

Mr. Alfred Morris

A claimant may have some other person or persons present when the medical practitioner visits to complete the medical report form for attendance allowance. The medical practitioner would usually agree to another medical practitioner being present during any necessary medical examination. Whether anyone else should remain for the clinical examination would depend on such factors as the wishes of the claimant, the extent of the examination, the nature of the disablement, whether the disabled person was a child or an adult, and whether the disabled person were of the same sex as the medical practitioner. Similar considerations will apply when a medical examination by a general practitioner is required to provide evidence for a claim to non-contributory invalidity pension by a married woman.