§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to speed up reports from medical boards in the light of the substantial delay experienced by Mr. M. Hancock of 10 Biart Place, Rugby, and, in particular, if he will give consideration to increasing the number of both lay and medical personnel available to the medical boards.
§ Mr. RossiI regret the delay in the case of my hon. Friend's constituent, about whom our Blackpool office has already written to him.
Some claims for benefits are subject to delays at present, either because of an unusually large number of claims for a particular benefit or because of the industrial dispute in the Civil Service, or for a combination of these factors. Staffing levels are based on average workloads, and these are kept under continuous review allowing account to be taken of long-term changes. We are making every effort to clear outstanding cases as quickly as possible with existing staff. No benefit will be lost as a result of the length of time taken to determine a claim.