§ 23. Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps she proposes to introduce within her Department to enable benefits appeals to be dealt with more speedily. [42950]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Social Security Act 1998, which received Royal Assent on 21 May, paves the way for modernising the delivery of social security, including 469W the handling of appeals. A wide range of measures—some of which we are introducing immediately—will streamline the administration of appeals and ensure appeals are dealt with more speedily. In particular, the Act enables the Secretary of State to assume responsibility for the administration of the appeals system. She will set and publish demanding targets for the administration of appeals and report on the results.