§ 10. Mr. Peter Archerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many refusals of benefit by insurance officers were allowed on appeal in relation, respectively, to unemployment benefit, and supplementary benefit, in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available.
§ Mr. DeanDecisions for first instance on unemployment benefit claims are given by insurance officers; for supplementary benefit they are given by the Supplementary Benefits Commission. In the year ended 31st December, 1971, 3,266 unemployment benefit appeals were decided in the claimant's favour and in 4,135 cases the grant of supplementary benefit was increased on appeal. These represent, generally speaking, 19 per cent. and 24 per cent. of the appeals received.