45. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have consultations with the British Medical Association concerning the refusal of payment of sickness benefit to claimants who produce a certificate signed by a doctor.
§ Mr. RossiNo. Claims to sickness benefit and questions arising out of them are determined by the independent statutory authorities. A doctor's statement—certificate—is an expression of opinion by the doctor giving it. Other relevant evidence must also be taken into account by the statutory authorities in deciding claims to sickness benefit.