§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security(a) when his Department withdrew leaflet N1272 on asbestos, (b) for what reasons it was withdrawn, (c) what plans he has to issue a new leaflet covering this subject and (d) when replacement literature will be available. [132489]
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when he intends to replace or reissue leaflet N1272 relating to diseases caused by asbestos; [132641]
(2) for what reason leaflet N1272, relating to asbestos-related diseases, has been withdrawn. [132642]
§ Mr. BayleyLeaflet N1272 was withdrawn on 1 November 1999 as part of a review of all the Benefits Agency's leaflets. The review was carried out following extensive research with customers to find out what they wanted from leaflets. The research showed that customers did not find leaflets the best source of detailed information.
For those who would use a leaflet, the research showed that customers wanted the leaflets based on specific life events rather than covering specific benefits. They also wanted the leaflets to contain basic information about all the help they could get in that circumstance and they wanted the information to be just enough to help them to decide whether to claim. Based on the research we withdrew leaflet N1272 and replaced it with a less detailed leaflet SD6 "ill or disabled because of a disease or deafness caused by work".
There are no plans to issue a new leaflet specifically on asbestos-related diseases. However, the Benefits Agency issued replacement literature on 1 November 1999. Its leaflet SD6 "ill or disabled because of a disease or deafness caused by work" is aimed at customers and gives brief details of the Industrial Injuries scheme. It also issued a technical guide, DB1 "A guide to Industrial Injuries scheme benefits", on the same date. This gives 848W detailed information about the scheme, including asbestos-related diseases. It is freely available to the public although it is primarily aimed at customer advisers.