§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the proposed hospital closures which have been notified to him since he took office in each of the area health authorities of England and Wales.
§ Dr. VaughanDuring the period 1 April 1979 to 31 December 1979, health authorities in England notified the Department of the following new proposals for permanent closure of whole hospitals or units. A number of these proposals are currently being reviewed.
paid sickness benefit; and when they will be paid.
§ Mr. PrenticeAt the Port Talbot, Bridgend and Neath offices, of the claims to sickness benefit made by British Steel Corporation employees before 2 January, 86 have to date not yet been paid. The claims will be determined by the insurance officer as soon as the additional evidence of incapacity called for in these 267W cases has been put to him. In seven of the cases, a doctor's statement indicating that the incapacity has ended, has been received.
§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions have been given to local offices where British Steel Corporation employees, now on strike, are claimants for sickness benefit arising both before the strike started and during the strike; when they were given; and to whom.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo particular instructions have been given to local offices concerning British Steel Corporation employees now on strike and claiming sickness benefit.
There have been for some time standing instructions which provide that where a number of claims to sickness benefit are received from persons known to be on strike and doubts appear to arise as to incapacity for work a local office manager may take steps in accordance with normal practice to obtain additional evidence to put to the insurance officer determining the claim.