HC Deb 02 April 1990 vol 170 cc497-500W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals have been made to(a) medical appeals tribunals and (b) social security tribunals in each standard planning region in each of the last 10 years; how long on average it has taken to deal with these appeals each year; and what has been the shortest and longest time any appellant has had to wait for a decision in each year.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I regret the Department does not hold the information requested for medical appeals tribunals. However, the office of the president of social security and medical appeal tribunals keeps certain statistics and the hon. Member may care to contact him direct.

Information is also not available in the form requested for social security tribunals prior to 1984. The tables give the required information from 1984 to the quarter ending 30 September 1989 (the latest figures available). Statistics are not kept on the shortest and longest time any appellant has had to wait for a decision.

Social Security appeal tribunal: Statistics all benefits
Period New lodgements Average weekly clearance time of appeals heard
Great Britain
9 months to 31 December 1984 190,290 13.5
Year to 31 December 1985 290,488 14.8
Year to 31 December 1986 352,535 16.0
Year to 31 December 1987 323,160 21.7
Year to 31 December 1988 261,798 24.7
3 months to 31 March 1989 43,573 27.8
3 months to 30 June 1989 41,221 25.0
3 months to 30 September 1989 38,483 23.7
Scotland
9 months to 31 December 1984 27,203 11.7
Year to 31 December 1985 45,532 12.3
Year to 31 December 1986 63,056 14.0
Year to 31 December 1987 60,960 23.3
Year to 31 December 1988 52,664 24.9
3 months to 31 March 1989 6,631 32.7
3 months to 30 June 1989 5,444 28.9
3 months to 30 September 1989 4,442 23.8
Wales
9 months to 31 December 1984 9,808 13.2
Year to 31 December 1985 14,998 15.6
Year to 31 December 1986 20,287 15.5
Year to 31 December 1987 18,567 18.6
Year to 31 December 1988 16,198 19.7
3 months to 31 March 1989 2,875 19.7
3 months to 30 June 1989 2,872 16.8
3 months to 30 September 1989 2,553 19.5
North East
9 months to 31 December 1984 29,209 10.4
Year to 31 December 1985 45,553 12.6
Year to 31 December 1986 55,589 14.7
Year to 31 December 1987 58,349 21.4
Year to 31 December 1988 48,364 26.1
3 months to 31 March 1989 7,166 26.2
3 months to 30 June 1989 6,420 21.1
3 months to 30 September 1989 5,991 19.9
London North
9 months to 31 December 1984 26,250 14.5
Year to 31 December 1985 39,861 16.0
Year to 31 December 1986 44,059 17.8
Year to 31 December 1987 34,659 20.6
Year to 31 December 1988 26,550 21.3
3 months to 31 March 1989 5,542 26.0
3 months to 30 June 1989 5,221 22.7
3 months to 30 September 1989 4,750 23.1
London South
9 months to 31 December 1984 22,540 14.4
Year to 31 December 1985 34,893 17.2
Year to 31 December 1986 39,636 20.0
Year to 31 December 1987 30,663 21.8
Year to 31 December 1988 23,310 23.4
3 months to 31 March 1989 4,614 26.7
3 months to 30 June 1989 5,358 27.4
3 months to 30 September 1989 6,736 28.6
South Western
9 months to 31 December 1984 12,514 12.7
Year to 31 December 1985 19,710 14.7
Year to 31 December 1986 23,464 15.7
Year to 31 December 1987 18,334 18.1
Year to 31 December 1988 13,891 19.2
3 months to 31 March 1989 2,801 20.2
3 months to 30 June 1989 2,415 18.6
3 months to 30 September 2,305 19.5
Midlands
9 months to 31 December 1984 32,367 15.5
Year to 31 December 1985 43,666 16.3
Period New lodgements Average weekly clearance time of appeals heard
Year to 31 December 1986 55,142 16.2
Year to 31 December 1987 48,961 23.6
Year to 31 December 1988 38,004 26.3
3 months to 31 March 1989 6,662 26.9
3 months to 30 June 1989 6,546 23.3
3 months to 30 September 1989 5,555 24.6
North West
9 months to 31 December 1984 30,399 15.3
Year to 31 December 1985 46,275 15.1
Year to 31 December 1986 51,302 15.0
Year to 31 December 1987 52,667 21.7
Year to 31 December 1988 42,817 26.9
3 months to 31 March 1989 7,282 30.8
3 months to 30 June 1989 6,945 30.3
3 months to 30 September 1989 6,151 26.7
Period New lodgements Average weekly clearance time of appeals heard
Wales and South West
9 months to 31 December 1984 22,322 12.9
Year to 31 December 1985 34,708 15.1
Year to 31 December 1986 43,751 15.6
Year to 31 December 1987 36,901 18.3
Year to 31 December 1988 30,089 19.5
3 months to 31 March 1989 5,676 20.0
3 months to 30 June 1989 5,287 17.6
3 months to 30 September 1989 4,858 19.5

Note: New lodgements—up to 31 December 1986 the figures reflect "all appeals" which includes appeals outstanding from the previous quarter. From 1 January 1987 the figures are for new lodgements only.