§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Attorney-General how many decisions were made in 1984 and 1985 by the Social Security Commissioner on appeals (a) by the Secretary of State and (b) by the claimant concerning attendance allowance; and, in each case, in what number of cases the allowance was awarded.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn 1984, two decisions were made on appeals by the Secretary of State and 44 on appeals by claimants. Twenty six appeals, including one by the Secretary of State, succeeded. I understand from the Secretary of State that, of the 26 successful appeals, 20686W resulted in an award of the allowance by the Attendance Allowance Board. In 1985 one decision was made on appeal by the Secretary of State, and 69 on appeals by claimants. Forty appeals, including that by the Secretary of State, succeeded. The information requested on the actual awards for 1985 cases is not immediately available, but will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Attorney-General what is the average time between receipt by the Social Security Commissioner of an appeal concerning attendance allowance after leave to appeal has been granted and a decision on that appeal; and how long it takes to grant leave of appeal in such cases.
§ The Attorney-GeneralFor applications for leave to appeal decided in 1985 (by the grant or refusal of leave) the average time was 15 working days. For appeals decided in 1985, it was 136 working days, including the period before the case was ready for determination.