§ 53. Mr. HoltTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans are in hand to improve the operational efficiency of mobility and attendance allowance tribunals.
§ Mr. ScottThe social security appeal tribunals —which consider appeals on claims for attendance allowance and mobility allowance—and medical appeal tribunals—which consider appeals on medical questions affecting mobility allowance — are the responsibility of the independent president of social security and medical appeal tribunals. Reviews of decisions on the medical criteria for attendance allowance are the responsibility of the independent Attendance Allowance Board. The tribunals and the board consider many thousands of appeals and reviews each year. I know that the president and the board are anxious to minimise the time taken to deal with appeals and reviews. They are in regular contact with our officials to see how arrangements for handling appeals and reviews can be improved.