§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what fees are paid to (a) chairmen and (b) members of (i) supplementary benefit appeal tribunals and (ii) national insurance local tribunals.
§ Mr. RossiChairmen of supplementary benefit appeal tribunals and national insurance local tribunals are paid a fee of £49 per session.
No fees are payable to members of supplementary benefit appeal tribunals or national insurance local tribunals.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what training or other facilities are available to assist (a) chairmen and (b) members of (i) supplementary benefit appeal tribunals and (ii) national insurance local tribunals in carrying out their functions.
§ Mr. RossiThe following training and other facilities are presently available to assist:
- (i) Supplementary benefit appeal tribunals
- (a) Chairmen: training meetings organised by senior chairmen; Chairmen's annual conferences.
- (b) Members: training meetings organised by senior chairmen.
- (ii) National insurance local tribunals
- (a) Chairmen (all legally qualified): No formal training; Chairmen's conferences held normally every three years.
- (b) Members: no formal training or other facilities are available, although all chairmen and members sit in on actual hearings as observers before taking up their appointment.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library a copy of any communications received from the Council on Tribunals concerning the merger of supplementary benefit and national insurance appeal tribunals.
§ Mr. RossiNo. The Council on Tribunals publishes an annual report, and any comments it wishes to make on the proposed merger will be included in this report.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current average waiting time for a hearing before national insurance local tribunals.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the decision of the tribunal of social security commissioners which sat in December to consider whether tribunals should base their decisions on the facts at the date of claim or at the date of the appeal tribunal hearing to be available.
§ Mr. RossiA tribunal of commissioners sat in December to consider a claim to a single payment of382W supplementary benefit. One point at issue was the time at which a need for a single payment could be said to exist under the single payments regulations. The decision will be issued to the parties involved as soon as it is completed.