HC Deb 11 January 1988 vol 125 cc166-7W
Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) of the unsuccessful appeals in social security tribunal cases in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986, in what proportion of cases the claimant was represented;

(2) of the successful appeals in social security tribunal cases in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986, in what proportion of cases the claimant was represented.

Mr. Portillo

The table gives the available information. Prior to April 1984 appeal statistics on representation were kept only for supplementary benefit appeal tribunals.

Social security appeal tribunal statistics are now published annually in "Social Security Statistics'". The 1986 edition contains information on social security tribunal statistics from April 1984 to December 1985, and the 1987 edition contains information on social security tribunal statistics from January 1986 to December 1986.

will provide that applications to a social fund officer or social fund inspector for review of a social fund officer's decision shall be made within 28 days of the decision in question being issued. These time limits may be extended if the social fund officer or social fund inspector considers there are special reasons for doing so.

Paragraphs 3052 and 6041 of the social fund manual, a copy of which is in the Library, advise social fund officers that decisions on applications for budgeting loans and community care grants respectively should, where practicable, be decided within 28 days. Paragraph 4043 advises that when all the necessary information has been obtained applications for crisis loans should be decided without delay.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what amounts of money have been allocated to the offices of his Department in Greenock and Port Glasgow from the social fund in the first and second year and each subsequent year for which projections are available.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the social fund allocation for Sunderland for 1988–89 as a percentage of supplementary benefits single payments in 1986–87.

Mr. Scott

Information on the allocations for 1988–89 was contained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November at columns774–81. Allocations for future years have not yet been decided. Information on expenditure on single payments in 1986–87 is in the Library.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local offices of his Department have responded either to regional or national headquarters of his Department on the level of their social fund budget; and how many expressed concern about the level of their social fund allocation.

Mr. Scott

About 25 local offices have raised operational questions relating to their budget allocation.