§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals before the Social Security Commissioners there were in 1979 to 1982 in which solicitors from his Department provided representation at oral hearings for (a) supplementary benefit cases and (b) all other cases; and what percentage of all hearings in relation to these years these represent.
§ Mr. NewtonThe precise figures are not available but, in general, the Department provides representation at virtually all oral hearings on supplementary benefit and in about one third of all other cases. The function of the representative is that of amicus curiae, as described by Lord Justice Diplock.
(R v. Deputy Industrial Injuries Commissioner ex parte Moore [1965] 1 QB 456 p. 486.)