HC Deb 05 February 1997 vol 289 cc633-6W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further medical evidence has been received since the decision to change the policy on noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss; what assessment he has made of whether the additional medical evidence is consistent with the reasons for changing his policy on war disablement pensions for deafness; and if he will make a statement. [14343]

Mr. Heald

Since the change in approach regarding noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss was announced, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has met representatives of the Royal British Legion, and a paper written for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf by Dr. Coles has been received. In addition, my noble Friend, Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish, has received an open letter from four hearing loss experts. Professor Mark Lutman, Professor Adrian Davis, Dr. Jonathan Hazell and Dr. Ross Coles. All the experts agree with the fundamental point in the advice presented to the Central Advisory Committee on war pensions on 5 December 1996, namely that noise-induced loss and age-related hearing loss are broadly additive. It is the scientific fact that led to the new approach.

Mr. Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in theOfficial Report the open letter sent to the Minister of State, the noble Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish, on 23 January by Professor Mark E. Lutman and others about the Minister's statement that medical opinion on noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss has changed; what action he is taking to revise the Government's change of policy on war disablement pensions for deafness; and if he will make a statement. [14339]

Mr. Heald

A copy has been placed in the Library.

The letter confirms that noise-induced hearing loss and hearing loss due to aging are broadly additive. It is that medical opinion which is now being applied in the assessment of claims for war disablement pension. No action to revise policy on war disablement pensions on hearing loss is therefore being taken.

Mr. Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of ex-service men and women who(a) will qualify for a war disablement pension for deafness under the revised regulations governing entitlement that became effective in March 1996, and (b) would have qualified had the Government not approved their change of policy. [14341]

Income support/housing benefit/council tax benefit couples with disregarded earnings: Max 1995
Disregard Income Support Housing benefit Council tax benefit
£ Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage
5 35,000 3.7 n/a n/a n/a n/a
10 1,000 0.1 132,000 25.6 162,000 20.5
15 23,000 2.4 19,000 3.7 31,000 3.9
25 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Income support/housing benefit/council tax benefit single people without dependants with disregarded earnings: May 1995
Disregard Income Support Housing benefit Council tax benefit
£ Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage
5 35,000 1.0 96,000 9.9 78,000 6.5
10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
15 5,000 0.2 3,000 0.4 3,000 0.3
25 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Income support/housing benefit/council tax benefit single people with dependants with disregarded earnings: Max 1995
Disregard Income support Housing benefit Council tax benefit
£ Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Number Per cent.
5 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Mr. Heald

No revised regulation or change of policy governing entitlement to war pensions became effective in March 1996. That was the date on which departmental medical advisors initially advised that there was no longer any reasonable doubt that the effects of noise and age-related hearing loss were broadly additive. In the light of subsequent statements by medical experts that this had been known for 30 years, the matter has been looked at again and we now accept that the position should have been corrected at an earlier date.

We estimate that, in 1997–98, 800 new claimants will qualify for a war disablement pension for noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss.

Mr. Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultation he had with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People on the Government's interpretation of the medical evidence on noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss; and when they were consulted [14342]

Mr. Heald

Departmental officials met the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and its medical advisor on 9 January.

The current approach to cases involving service-related noise induced, sensorineural hearing loss and later age-related hearing loss is that the two are not more than additive. All the experts, including those advising the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, agree on this. The medical facts are not, therefore, in doubt.