HC Deb 03 December 1981 vol 14 c214W
Dr. Edmund Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to ensure that, when a handicapped person is found by his Department's medical advisers to be fit for limited light work, but no such work can be found for him in open or sheltered employment, his entitlement to sick benefit or invalidity benefit should continue.

Mr. Rossi

Medical advisers only advise on a claimant's fitness for work—limited or otherwise. It is for the independent statutory authorities to decide whether a person is or is not entitled to sickness or invalidity benefit in the light of all the evidence available, including any medical advice.

We have no plans to alter the law relating to entitlement to incapacity benefits at present.