§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been discharged from the forces with severe hearing loss in the last year for which figures are available; in how many cases the hearing loss was attributable to service in the forces; and if he will categorise the size of the pensions awarded according to the degree of hearing loss.
§ Mr. FreemanIn 1985, which is the last year for which figures are available, there were 10 medical discharges of United Kingdom regular service personnel in which the principal cause was under International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 388.1 (Noise effects on inner ear). A further 54 medical discharges were made under ICD 389 (Deafness). A few of these may have been due to Service attributable causes.
The further information requested is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. I am advised however that in 1985 1,313 new awards were made by DHSS for hearing deficiencies attributable to service in the armed forces. Because there is no limitation on the period in which a person has to claim a war pension, those awards may have been made to any person who left the forces after the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. The number of awards made to persons who left the services only during 1985 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
I am further advised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services that disablement is assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Service Pensions Order, notably Article 9 and Part V of Schedule 1, which requires a 100 per cent. assessment for absolute deafness. Other assessments of less disablement are based on the hearing acuity to conversational voice and audio-metric findings.
180WThe use of the latter in assessing degree of disablement is on the basis of advice given to the DHSS by the British Associaton of Otolaryngologists. The basis of assessment from conversational voice is on advice from consultants, medical boards and tribunals.
Degrees of disablement assessed as above apply only to the deafness itself and additions have to be made in respect of complications such as chronic suppuration, tinnitus or vertigo due to the accepted condition.
If the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) has a particular case in mind, I am advised that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services would be pleased to look into the matter.