26. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Minister of Social Security how many cases of disputed pensions claims have been submitted to her decision under Section 64(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1965; how many were decided in favour of the claimant; how many were rejected; how many have been the subject of an appeal to the High Court; and how many appeals have been won by appellants.
§ Mrs. HartI will, with permission, circulate the available information in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It will be seen that since 61h September, 1965, when the 1965 consolidating Act came into force, no such case has been the subject of an appeal to the High Court. Between the start of the national insurance scheme in 1948 and the above date, there were six appeals to the High Court in this type of case and in all of them the Minister's decision was upheld.
§ The following is the information:
§ Decisions since 6th September, 1965, under Section 54(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1965, on contribution questions arising out of claims for retirement pension or widow's benefit:
| Number | |
| Ministers decisions | 1,835 |
| Cases in which contribution record improved | 508 |
| Cases in which contribution record not improved | 1,327 |
| Cases taken to the High Court | NIL |