§ 14. Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the circumstances under which long-term invalidity benefit claimants are referred for independent medical examination by his Department's divisional medical officers.
§ Mr. ScottWe are satisfied that the present arrangements, using independent doctors employed by the Department of Health, strike the right balance between the interests of the claimant and the need to ensure that benefit rules are fulfilled. In 1988, 55 per cent. of claimants referred to the regional medical service were found incapable of work without the need for them to undergo a further medical examination. I have no plans for a review.