§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make the decisions of the social security commissioners binding throughout the United Kingdom. [7149]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Social Security Commissioners have jurisdiction throughout Great Britain. There is a separate statutory authority for Social Security arrangements in Northern Ireland which has its own Social Security Commissioners. To make all Commissioners decisions binding throughout the United Kingdom would involve a fundamental change to the way in which precedent operates throughout the legal jurisdictions in Great Britain. The Government has no plans to change this arrangement.
Legislation will be brought forward to improve current decision making and appeals arrangements for all Social Security matters throughout the United Kingdom. Further details will be announced in due course.