§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the new arrangements for appeals by asbestosis sufferers and others to medical arbitration tribunals against decisions of pneumoconiosis medical panels relating to disability benefit; and if he will ensure that these arrangements are given maximum publicity.
§ Mr. Orme:Draft regulations have been referred today to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, as required by section 141(2) of the Social Security Act 1975, and to the Council on Tribunals, as required by section 10(1) of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971. The draft regulations provide for a right of appeal in pneumoconiosis and byssinosis cases where there have been two disallowances and one year has elapsed since the first of them instead of, as at present, four disallowances and a period of two years. As regards publicity arrangements, I can assure my hon. Friend that information about the new rules for appealing will be given, following their introduction, to each claimant whose claim for disablement benefit on acount of pneumoconiosis or byssinosis is disallowed on diagnosis grounds.