§ 22. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any proposals relating to the role of regional medical officers in local appeal tribunals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe constitution of a social security appeal tribunal is a legally qualified chairman and two lay members who have knowledge or experience of the local area. Medical appeal tribunals consist of a legally qualified chairman and two consultant medical practitioners. These people are part-time and are completely independent.
86WRegional medical officers have no role in social security appeal tribunals or medical appeal tribunals. Their function is to provide medical advice to adjudication officers in deciding benefit claims.
The Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance Bill, currently in Committee, makes provision for a new disability appeal tribunal consisting of a legally qualified chairman, a medical practitioner and a person experienced in dealing with the needs of disabled people.
We have no proposals to alter the role of regional medical officers.