§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many adjudicating medical decisions awarding industrial injuries disablement benefit have been made; and how many reviews of existing benefits have been instigated at the request of the Benefits Agency; [23765]
(2) how many applications for industrial injuries disablement benefit are outstanding; what is the waiting time for processing them; and what is the total value of the payments currently suspended, subject to review. [23766]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of industrial injuries disablement benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will reply to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Ursula Brennan to Ms Joan Walley, dated 3 April 1996:
As Peter Mathison is on leave at present, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many adjudicating medical decisions awarding Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) have been made; how many reviews of existing benefits have been instigated at the request of the Benefits Agency; how many applications for IIDB are outstanding; what is the waiting time for processing them; and what is the total value of the payments currently suspended, subject to review.The number of adjudicating medical decisions in the period 1 March 1995 to 29 February 1996 was 24,467, the latest information available.Information about the number of reviews of existing benefit instigated at the request of the Benefits Agency is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The number of claims outstanding at the end of February 1996, was 25,813. These were made up of 10,253 claims in respect of industrial accidents and 15,560 claims in respect of prescribed diseases.Annex A gives details of the current claims clearance targets.Information on the number of outstanding applications and the number of cases where payment is currently suspended subject to review is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.I hope this reply is helpful.419W
Annex A Target set for 1995–96 Target achieved 1 April 1995 to 29 February 1996 Industrial Accidents 60 per cent. in 70 days 62.6 per cent. in 70 days 90 per cent. in 150 days 92.4 per cent. in 150 days Prescribed Diseases 63 per cent. in 100 days 73 per cent. in 100 days 90 per cent. in 200 days 94.5 per cent. in 200 days These figures are provisional and subject to change.