§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the latest available figures for the number of references of claims for invalidity benefit and sickness benefit to the regional medical services; how many of these cases resulted in examinations; and what were the outcomes (i) where examinations took place and (ii) where they did not;
(2) what are the latest available figures for the number of references of claims for severe disablement allowance to the regional medical services; and how many of these cases resulted in examinations and what were the outcomes (a) where examinations took place and (b) where they did not.
§ Mr. LyellI regret that information is not available in the form requested. The latest available information relates to all claims referred to the regional medical services, including claims for invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and severe disablement allowance in the year to 31 December 1985, and is set out in the following table:
701W
England and Wales Scotland Great Britain (i) Number of cases examined 248,382 40,413 288,795 Made up as follows: Found not incapable of work 36,696 7,365 44,061 Found incapable of work 179,677 28,701 208,378
England and Wales Scotland Great Britain Found incapable of normal occupation but capable of alternative work 32,009 4,347 36,656 (ii) Deemed incapable without examination 284,457 71,047 355,504 (iii) Did not attend 62,769 8,958 71,727 Total1 595,608 120,418 716,026 1ie all cases referred.
§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are made for female claimants for invalidity or sickness benefit who wish to be examined by a female doctor.
§ Mr. LyellWhen women claimants to sickness benefit who are referred to the regional medical service express a wish to be examined by a female doctor then arrangements are made to meet their wishes. Because there are relatively few women doctors available to do this work there may be occasions when the claimant has to travel a greater distance than would normally be the case in order to achieve this. There may exceptionally have been instances where it has not been possible to meet the claimants' requests.
§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures for the number of regional medical officers employed by the regional medical services; and what is the age and sex breakdown of these officers.
§ Mr. LyellThe Department's regional medical service employs thirty three full-time and one part-time regional medical officers. Only the part-time officer is female. Their ages range from 41 to 64 years (mean average 55.27 years).
In addition, medical examinations of claimants are conducted by part-time medical referees who are offered this work on a sessional basis. The regional medical service currently has available 248 part-time medical referees, 18 of whom are female. Their ages range from 37 to 75 years (mean average 62.88 years).