§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what standardised testing procedures are employed in the process of assessing people applying for attendance allowance; and what percentage are referred to consultant clinicians.
§ Mr. ScottThere are no testing procedures employed in determining claims for attendance allowance. Entitlement rests on prescribed legislative conditions. Claims are decided by adjudication officers, normally on the basis of evidence provided by customers themselves. However, in some cases additional information is required which can be obtained from a variety of sources. Information is not available on the percentage of cases where information is requested from a consultant clinician.