Sickness Certificates (Hansard, 17 March 1978)

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his attention has been drawn to Decision CS 1/78 of National Insurance Commissioner Mr. V. G. H. Hallett that a sick certificate, given under the Social Security
348W
home region and in another region, in the National Health Service and non-National Health Service, respectively; and how many of those on Charnwood residents were carried out in the home region and in another region, in the National Health Service and non-National Health Service, respectively.

§ Mr. Moyle
Available information is as follows:
(Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976, in the form that the claimant should refrain from work was conclusive and binding and entitled the claimant to invalidity pension, thus rendering null and void the reports of two medical officers of his own Department that the claimant was capable of light work; and what action he proposes to take to change this situation.

§ Mr. Ennals
I have made amending regulations—The Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit) Amendment Regulations (SI 1978 No. 394)—which come into operation today. They will ensure that a doctor's medical statement given under the Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976 does not give automatic entitlement to benefit. My Department is also seeking leave to apply for an order of certiorari in respect of the Commissioner's decision on the ground that the decision is wrong in law.

§ Mr. Fairbairn
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of medically certificated absenteeism from work in Glasgow, Edinburgh. Aberdeen, Scotland, Ipswich, Newcastle. London 349W and England, respectively, for the past four years.

§ Mr. Deakins
Figures of medically certified absence from work are available

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS OF CERTIFICATED INCAPACITY FOR WORK PER HEAD OF AVERAGE MALE POPULATION AT RISK EXCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SICK FOR MORE THAN 52 WEEKS

1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75^*

Scotland—Males … … … 12 12 12 12

England—Males … … … 9 9 9 9

^* The population at risk is not available for 1974–75 and the rates are based on the 1973–74 population at risk figures for Scotland and England.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS OF CERTIFICATED INCAPACITY FOR WORK PER HEAD OF AVERAGE MALE POPULATION AT RISK EXCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SICK FOR MORE THAN 52 WEEKS
				1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75^*
Scotland—Males	…	…	…	12	12	12	12
England—Males	…	…	…	9	9	9	9
^* The population at risk is not available for 1974–75 and the rates are based on the 1973–74 population at risk figures for Scotland and England.