§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals have been made to the medical appeal tribunal in each year since 1973 in England and Wales; what proportion of appeals in each year have been 232W upheld, dismissed and withdrawn; what proportion of successful applications to the tribunal in each year had legal representation; and whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans to extend legal aid to cover legal representation in such tribunals.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the information is not available in the forms requested, but the following table gives details of appeals to medical appeal tribunals in Great Britain under the industrial injuries scheme and, from 1976, in relation to mobility allowance. Separate figures are not available for England and Wales
Appeals decided Year Number of appeals made Upheld Dismissed per cent. per cent. 1973 10,377 40 60 1974 9,895 40 60 1975 8,964 42 58 1976 9,935 41 59 1977 11,289 41 59 1978 11,531 38 62 1979 11,003 36 64 1980 10,967 36 64 1981 10,021 35 65 1982 10,074 36 64 1983 10,052 37 63 Information is not available on numbers of appeals withdrawn nor of appellants receiving legal representation. The provision of legal aid is a matter for my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor.