§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the appeal of Mrs. Frieda Keen against refusal to pay a maternity grant to her will be heard; why hearing the appeal has been delayed so long; and how many other appeals have been outstanding for more than three months.
§ Mr. DeakinsI regret that I am unable to indicate when Mrs. Keen's appeal to the National Insurance commissioner will be heard.
As my hon. Friend is already aware, the total volume of outstanding appeals to the commissioner has been increasing owing to a number of factors, including the greater range of benefits now available and a greater awareness on the part of claimants of their appeal rights. Approximately 2,500 appeals have been outstanding for more than three months.
I am naturally concerned about the position and steps have already been taken with a view to reducing the delay. These include the appointment of two additional full-time commissioners, to which my right hon. Friend referred in his reply to the hon. and learned Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) on 16 January, and the re-employment on a part-time basis of another commissioner who has just retired.—[Vol. 960, c. 710–1.]
I shall be replying to my hon. Friend's correspondence about Mrs. Keen as soon as possible.