§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the number of examining medical practitioners contracted to(a) the Benefits Agency Medical Service and (b) SEMA; how many of them had qualified four years or fewer previously; and how many were aged over 65 years. [106686]
§ Mr. BayleyThe Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) provided medical advice and examinations for this Department and other Government Departments in support of the delivery of Incapacity and Disability Benefits.
The service was provided by, approximately, 3,000 part-time contracted doctors.
The work previously undertaken by BAMS has been contracted out, from 1 September 1998, to Sema Group. The services previously provided by BAMS are now undertaken by Sema Group 'Medical Services', and are provided on behalf of the Benefits Agency (BA).
Medical Services have a total of 2,968 doctors contracted to undertake medical examinations, of these a total of 570 are over the age of 65.
Records held do not show any doctors with less than four years experience.