§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General how many inquiries have been raised by personal attendance(a) at the London office of the social security commissioners in (i) English cases, (ii) Welsh cases and (b) Edinburgh office of the social security commissioners.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThis information is not recorded.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the implications of the proposed transfer of the central DHSS administration to Wales for his Department's policy towards having a resident social security commissioner in Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible for the administration of the office of the social security commissioners. Any changes to the central administration of the DHSS or its location would not affect directly the current administrative arrangements for the commissioners in Cardiff or elsewhere.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General how many appeals to the social security commissioners have been heard in Cardiff during 1988; and how many cases from Wales have been dealt with during the same period without an oral hearing.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralDuring the first six months of 1988, 26 oral appeals were heard by social security commissioners in Cardiff. Of that number, 22 were appeals by Welsh residents; the claimants in the other four appeals were resident outside Wales but within reasonable travelling distance of Cardiff. During the same period, 37 cases from Wales were disposed of without an oral hearing.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General how many staff of the social security commissioner's office are employed in Cardiff permanently to assist visiting commissioners.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNone. Social security commissioners visiting Cardiff are accompanied and assisted by a member of staff from the office of the social security commissioners in London.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Attorney-General how many social security commissioners are permanently resident in the Edinburgh office; and what is the total number of staff employed in that office.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere are three social security commissioners resident in Edinburgh and seven staff employed in the Edinburgh office.