§ Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that medical assessors are sufficiently trained with regard to medical evidence when interpreting the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) Prescribed Diseases Regulations 1993.
§ Mr. HagueAssessments in connection with prescribed diseases are made by independent adjudicating 621W medical authorities, the members of which are fully registered medical practitioners with extensive knowledge and experience in general medicine. On appointment the medical practitioners are trained in the practical procedures and the medico-legal aspects of the industrial injuries scheme by experienced AMAs. In addition, all AMAs are supplied with the DSS publication, "Notes on the Diagnosis of Prescribed Diseases", and the "Industrial Injuries Handbook for Adjudicating Medical Authorities" which details and explains the legislation relevant to the assessment of disablement in industrial injuries and prescribed diseases. Copies of both publications have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals in each region have claimed industrial disablement benefit for chronic bronchitis or emphysema under the approved scheme to date; and how many have been approved.
§ Mr. HagueThe information is not available by region. Information from Benefits Agency area directorates as at 31 December 1994 is in the table.
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema (PD D12) by Area Directorate Area Claims Awards1 South Anglia 25 3 Chilterns 22 4 East London and Essex 21 0 South London and West Sussex 0 0 South East 479 33 Wessex 0 0 West Country 149 6 Wales and Central England East Midlands 5,813 646
1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 £ million total 1986 Industrial injuries changes -7 -35 -45 — — — -113 Abolition of REA new cases — — — -5 -20 -42 -72 Notes:
1. All figures shown are in £ million.
2. Figures shown are in cash terms except for the totals which are expressed in real terms at 1994–95 prices.
3. Figures should be regarded as estimates only.
4. The figures shown are for the forecast savings of Industrial Injuries benefits resulting from the changes shown during the relevant Public Expenditure Survey period. They are not necessarily the actual effect on II benefit or total DSS benefit expenditure.
1 The main change to the Industrial Injuries scheme was the increase of disability threshold from 1 per cent. to 14 per cent.