§ 69. Mr. Shephardasked the Attorney-General the date of the last meeting of the Pensions Appeals Tribunal in Nottingham; when the tribunal will meet there again; and how many appeals are awaiting hearing at this centre.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somervell)A pensions appeal tribunal is sitting at Nottingham at the present time, and there have been sittings there in every week since 7th August, with the exception of the week beginning 14th August. The present series of sittings terminate this week, when all the cases listed for hearing will have been decided or otherwise disposed of. Some 55 new appeals from the East Midlands area have been received at the pensions appeal office since 25th September, too late for inclusion in the lists for the present sittings; these cases will be taken at the next series of sittings at Nottingham which begin on 27th November.
§ Mr. ShephardCould the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what steps he is taking to increase the number of these appeal tribunals in order to avoid delays?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI think, so far as Nottingham is concerned, the tribunal is well up to its work, and has disposed of the cases before it. I do not think there is really a case for further tribunals so far as Nottingham is concerned.