§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps have been taken to amend the proposed mental health impairment score in respect of the medical test to determine eligibility for incapacity benefit to assess eligibility for those persons suffering from mental health disorders.
§ Mr. HagueThe proposed new medical test for incapacity benefit contains special procedures for assessing the effects of mental health problems. Those procedures were drawn up in the light of the responses to a consultation document published in December 1993 and the work of a group of experts drawn from a panel appointed to help with the design of the medical test. Detailed information on the proposed test and the development work leading up to it is given in the report published in September 1994 entitled "The medical assessment for Incapacity Benefit", copies of which have been placed in the Library.