§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many doctors the Benefits Agency has trained in the operation of the all-work test; how many of those doctors(a) were found unsuitable and (b) left of their own accord after training; and how many have worked with the Benefits Agency medical services for a time but since left. [10219]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter for Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 14 January 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question about how many doctors the Benefits Agency have trained in the operation of the All Work Test; how many of those doctors (a) were found unsuitable and (b) left of their own accord after training; and how many have worked with the Benefits Agency Medical Services for a time but since left.The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the enclosed table.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Doctors trained to undertake medical examinations in connection with the incapacity benefit all work test1 Fee-paid doctors2 Employed doctors Trained 1,627 290 Found unsuitable after training3 76 0 Left4,5 186 54 Figures are provisional and subject to change. Notes: 1 The table shows information from 1 February 1995 to 30 November 1996. 2 Fee-paid doctors are not employees, but independent contractors. 3 Doctors who have repeatedly failed to achieve a satisfactory standard at various stages of the approval process. 4 Figures include those who left for personal reasons, retirement, etc., and fee-paid doctors whose contracts were terminated after approval, for failure to maintain a satisfactory quality standard. 5 Separate figures are not available to show the number who left immediately after training of their own accord.