§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department are taking to monitor the precision with which the all-work tests for incapacity benefit are conducted. [11187]
§ Mr. BurtWe continue to monitor closely all stages of the all-work test to ensure that it is operating as intended.
Medical examinations conducted as part of the all-work test for incapacity benefit are undertaken by fully qualified medical practitioners, recruited and trained by the Benefits Agency to an approved standard. The standard is maintained through continuous quality monitoring supported by sampling exercises, annual review of individual performance and careful monitoring of any complaints and appropriate remedial action where necessary.
The standard of adjudication decisions on incapacity benefit is monitored routinely by the chief adjudication officer and his staff, and a special sampling exercise has been conducted to examine a higher proportion of cases following introduction of the benefit.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals against the all-work medical test for incapacity benefit have resulted in a tribunal decision; and in how many cases the original decision was upheld. [11186]
§ Mr. BurtUp to 30 November 1995, 993 appeals against the all-work test for incapacity benefit resulted in a tribunal decision. The original decision was upheld in 525 cases.