§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards of each type of benefit were made or increased as a result of appeals in the year 1999–2000; what the cost to his Department will be of the making or increasing of those awards; how much the appeal process cost his Department in that year; and if he will make a statement. [125879]
710W
§ Angela EagleThe information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is as follows.
In the year ending September 1999 (the latest date available), of 262,971 appeals heard by the Appeals Service, 92,776 were found in the appellants favour.
Notes:1. As figures for September 1999 are not due to be published until 22 June, the figures quoted are provisional and may be subject to revision.2. Appeals found in the appellants favour includes References revised in favour of the appellant.Source:100 per cent. download from the Appeals Service Generic Appeals Processing system.
Estimated cost of processing appeals within the Department for the year 1999–2000 £ million Estimated cost Appeals Services 156.917 Benefits Agency 224.260 Child Support Agency 4.000 1 This figure excludes the cost of the launch of the Appeals Service agency and the introduction of the Decision Making and Appeals changes. 2 This figure reflects appeals processing within the district network and Disability and Caters Benefit Directorate only. Appeals costs for the Child Benefit Directorate and Pensions Overseas Directorate cannot be separately identified. A new system to streamline and modernise the appeals system has been introduced. This will lead to a faster and more efficient service. The Appeals Service has already made significant improvements to clear backlogs and reduce waiting times. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set challenging targets to improve the service still further.