§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria he intends to use in order to determine whether an applicant for severe disablement allowance is 80 per cent. disabled.
§ Mr. NewtonThe level of disablement will be assessed in accordance with criteria similar to those already used in the industrial injuries and war pensions schemes. The assessment will be made not only in relation to such conditions as are prescribed in regulations but also by comparison with a normal healthy person of the same age and sex.
Certain groups, including those registered blind or partially sighted and those receiving attendance allowance or mobility allowance, will automatically be accepted as at least 80 per cent. disabled without the need for further examination.
292Wconstituencies. My hon. Friend's constituency overlaps Mid-Staffordshire and South East Staffordshire health districts, and a significant proportion of the latter's population turns to North Birmingham health district for health services; the figures for these three health districts are given in the tables.