Bronchitis and Emphysema (Hansard, 13 April 1994)

§ Mr. Hague

The administration of industrial injuries disablement benefit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

Letter from Tony Laurance to Mr. John Cummings, dated 12 April 1994: As Michael Bichard is on sick leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the number of claims submitted in the Seaham and Peterlee areas for assessment of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and how many have been successful. Firstly, I would like to explain that there are two stages to the take on of claims for prescribed disease D12 (known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema), for which industrial injuries disablement benefit has been available since 13 September 1993 for people who have worked for at least 20 years underground in a coal mine. Stage 1 was restricted to claims from people who were aged 70 or over on 13 September 1993 or had an award of higher rate Disability Living Allowance care component or higher rate Attendance Allowance. Stage 1 ended on 28 February 1994; stage 2 commenced from 1 March and is open to anybody to claim. All claims are considered for payment from 13 September 1993. The information is not available in the format requested. This is because statistics are not available for specific areas but for Benefits Agency Districts. I have therefore supplied information for the Benefits Agency's North Durham District which covers the Seaham and Peterlee areas as well as Durham, Chester-le-Street and Stanley. As at 27 March 1994 the number of claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema received by the North Durham District Office was 2,646. This is in respect of both stage 1 and 2 of the take-on of claims. Not all of the claims have been processed yet but of those that have, 186 have been successful and have resulted in an award of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. I hope you find this reply helpful.