To ask the. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to receive the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council review of the vibration white finger diagnosis criteria used by medical advisers; and if he will make a statement [114783]
The report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on its review of Prescribed Disease A11, commonly known as vibration white finger, is expected at the end of this year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will issue new instructions about the use of the cold water provocation test in diagnosing VWF following the decision of Mr. Justice Pritchard of 2 May 2003; and whether those claimants given a negative decision on the basis of the test result will be invited to make a fresh application for an award. [114784]
Modified guidance on the use of the cold water provocation test contained in the Notes on the Diagnosis of Prescribed Diseases, was published on 21 May 2003, on the Corporate Medical Group's webpage of the Department's website. In addition, the office of the Department's Chief Medical Adviser has issued revised guidance to Schlumberger Sema Medical Services in connection with claims for industrial injuries benefits.We have no plans to invite fresh applications from anyone who was given a negative decision on the basis of the test, but anyone who re-applies will be considered under the revised guidance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to request the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to review the examination criteria used by medical advisers to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and if he will make a statement. [114785]
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is covered by Prescribed Disease D12, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, for the purposes of the
| Quarterly Performance | ||||
| Percentage | ||||
| Performance standard | April to June 2002 | July to September 2002 | October to December 2002 | January to March 2003 |
| 95 per cent. of calls answered by an agent1 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| All calls to receive standard greeting2 | 95.2 | 98.6 | 97.0 | 98.5 |
| Eight job entries per service point per week3 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 9.2 |
Sources:
1 Electronic Data Systems Statistics.
2 Jobseeker Direct Mystery Shopper results for 02/03.
3 Jobseeker Direct call data and job entry data on business information systems. (For 2003–04, this standard has been increased to 11 job entries per service point per week).
I hope this is helpful.