§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of awards of attendance allowances at (a) the lower rate and (b) the upper rate, after review in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe number of successful reviews for the years 1979 to 1983 is contained in "Social Security Statistics 1984" table 14.22. The number for 1984 is 23,184. Separate figures are not kept of the rate of the award following review.
§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants have been refused attendance allowance at (a) the lower rate and (b) the higher rate in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe number of rejections for the years 1979 to 1983 is contained in "Social Security Statistics 1984" table 14.05. The number for 1984 is 58,004. Applications for the allowance do not specify which of the two rates is being sought.
§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been expended nationally on attendance allowances in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information is contained in the Government's recent Public Expenditure White Paper, "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1985–86 to 1987–88" Cmnd. 9428 Vol. II page 166 table 3.12.
§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of attendance allowance beneficiaries at the lower and higher rates, respectively, for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information for the years 1979 to 1983 is contained in "Social Security Statistics 1984" table 14.30. The numbers for 1984 are: higher rate 192,000; lower rate 277,000.
§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what safeguards there are to ensure that delegated medical practitioners make proper and full examinations in relation to claims for attendance allowance and take into account claimants' personal circumstances.
§ Mr. NewtonMedical examinations for attendance allowance are usually made by fee-paid medical practitioners trained to complete the requisite report form. This form is designed to obtain clinical information and attention and supervision needs. It includes the claimant's own statement of what needs to be done for him.
Decisions are normally made by delegated medical practitioners on behalf of the Attendance Allowance Board on the basis of the evidence provided in each case.
The general quality of reports made by examining medical officers is monitored by the regional senior medical officer who also, with the Attendance Allowance Board, monitors the quality of decisions made by the delegated medical practitioners. In some difficult cases, decisions may be made by the board itself.