§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average time lapse between notice of appeal being given to the war pensions appeal tribunal and the case being heard; what is the shortest time; and what is the longest time before an appeal has been heard. [24044]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansAs at February 1996, the average time for a case to be heard at the pensions appeal tribunals from the date the appeal was received was 55 weeks. Of those cases finally determined during that month, the shortest waiting time was nine weeks and the longest 302 weeks.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the age profile in five-yearly intervals of outstanding applicants before the war pensions appeal tribunal. [24046]
§ Mr. EvansThis information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applicants before the war pensions appeal tribunal are cases alleging combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. [24048]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is not available as the pensions appeal tribunals do not record appeals by the type of medical condition subject to appeal.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the number of appeals currently outstanding before the war pensions appeal tribunal; and what was the number for each year for the past 10 years. [24043]
§ Mr. EvansAs at February 1996, there were 10,657 appeals outstanding. The number of appeals lodged has increased threefold in the last three years. The number outstanding as at the end of each of the last 10 years was as follows:
267W
- 1986: 1,841
- 1987: 2,194
- 1988: 1,837
- 1989: 2,135
- 1990: 1,658
- 1991: 1,821
- 1992: 1,356
- 1993: 2,405
- 1994: 5,737
- 1995: 9,697
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the increase in throughput of appeals before the war pensions appeal tribunal as a result of the recent increase in tribunal members. [24045]
§ Mr. EvansThe appointment of additional tribunal members during 1995 has meant that the number of venues where appeals are normally heard on a weekly basis has increased from four to eight, and it is planned to increase that number to 10 in may. In 1995, 4,907 cases were decided, compared with 2,863 in 1994.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases before the war pensions appeal tribunal have lapsed as a result of the death of the applicant. [24047]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is not available as the pensions appeal tribunals do not keep a record of cases that have lapsed due to the death of the appellant. There is provision for the next of kin to continue the case.