HC Deb 20 July 1973 vol 860 cc241-2W
Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unsuccessful applicants for the higher rate attendance allowance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have applied for a review since the attendance allowance was first introduced; how many of these have been successful; how many unsuccessful; and how many cases are pending.

Mr. Dean

Since the scheme started in 1971 there have been 33,000 applications for review in Great Britain of which 16,000 have been successful, 15,000 have been unsuccessful and 2,000 are pending. In the same period under the separate legislation in Northern Ireland there have been 3,700 applications for review of which 1,300 have been successful, 2,000 have been unsuccessful and 400 are pend- ing. These figures cover both the higher and the lower rate, as applicants do not have to indicate which rate they wish to claim.

Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unsuccessful applicants for the higher rate attendance allowance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have applied for leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioner; how many have been granted leave; how many have not been granted leave; how many cases are pending; and what have been the results in cases granted leave to appeal.

Mr. Dean

From 1971 to 17th July 1973 there have been 656 applications for leave to appeal to the Great Britain National Insurance Commissioner. Leave to appeal has been granted in 310 cases resulting in 244 successful and five unsuccessful appeals. Leave to appeal has not been granted in 233 cases, including 43 which were abandoned or withdrawn with the consent of the commissioner. Pending applications number 113. In the same period there have been 15 applications for leave to appeal to the Northern Ireland National Insurance Commissioner all of which have been granted. Six were successful, eight unsuccessful, and one case is pending.

Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been received for the higher rate attendance allowance since it was first introduced; how many of these applications have been successful; how many unsuccessful; and how many are pending.

Mr. Dean

Since the scheme started in 1971, there have been 247,000 applications for attendance allowance in Great Britain of which 133,000 were initially successful, 102,000 were initially rejected and 12,000 are pending. In the same period under the separate legislation in Northern Ireland there have been 14,400 applications for attendance allowance of which 7,900 were initially successful, 5,700 were initially unsuccessful and 800 are pending. All the figures include both the higher and the lower rate, as applicants do not have to indicate which rate they wish to claim.