HC Deb 15 February 1994 vol 237 cc695-7W
Dr. Bray

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consultations are taking place with the British Medical Association on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(2) what consultations are taking place with the Manic Depression Fellowship on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(3) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of Nursing on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(4) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of General Practitioners on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(5) what consultations are taking place with the British Medical Association on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(6) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of Physicians on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(7) what consultations are taking place with the Scottish Schizophrenic Fellowship on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(8) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(9) what consultations are taking place with the Department of Health on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(10) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of Surgeons on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(11) what consultations are taking place with the Institute of Psychiatry on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(12) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of General Practitioners on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(13) what consultations are taking place with the Department of Health on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(14) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of Physicians on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(15) what consultations are taking place with the Institute of Phychiatry on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation of the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(16) what consultations are taking place with the Royal College of Nursing on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests for each category of functional limitation as proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work;

(17) what consultations are taking place with the Manic Depression Fellowship (Scotland) on the development, field testing and evaluation of the objective medical tests in relation to the mental health impairment score proposed in the "Consultation on the Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit"—annex 1—for use in the assessment of capacity for work.

Mr. Scott

Discussions about the proposed new medical incapacity test have been held with the joint consultants committee and with representatives of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of "Physicians, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Medical Association. Officials have also discussed the test with officials in the Department of Health. The consultation document on the proposed test is freely available and over 4,700 copies have been distributed. A panel of 80 experts has been formed to help us construct the incapacity scales to be used in the test. The members of the panel have been asked to give their individual expert opinions, not to act as representatives of any particular organisation. Separate and additional discussions are being held about the mental health impairment score with experts in psychiatry, psychology and occupational medicine who are members of the panel.