Lord Winstanleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 are at present outstanding, and what steps are being taken to speed up the processes necessary to the settlement of these claims.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)As at 25th January 1991 there were 18 claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 outstanding. Of those, seven have been received this month and the remaining 11 have been outstanding for more than three months.
The number of cases awaiting a review of a disallowance made on behalf of the Secretary of State is 60. Of this figure, 10 are awaiting preparation in the Vaccine Damage Payment Unit. The remainder have been submitted for consideration by a vaccine damage tribunal. Any question on these cases should be referred to the office of the President of Social Security Appeal Tribunals.
The Vaccine Damage Payment Unit has clearance targets which are regularly reviewed.