§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Attorney-General what progress has been made on the review of the arrangements governing the reporting and availability of social security commissioners' decisions.
The Attorney-GeneralThe arrangements governing the reporting and availability of written decisions of the social security commissioners have been reviewed in consultation with a wide range of representative organisations. In the light of the comments received, it has been decided that revised arrangements should be introduced, as follows:
(1) There will be made available for inspection and for the obtaining of copies on payment at the London or Edinburgh office, as appropriate, of the social security commissioners decisions of commissioners as follows:
- (i) the starred decisions of commissioners made on or after 1 January 1987 (starred decisions are those decisions of more general significance);
- (ii) other commissioners' decisions made on or after 1 January 1987;
- (iii) as available, decisions of commissioners made on or before 31 December 1986.
(2) A subscription system will also be provided.
126W(3) Anonimity will be preserved so far as reasonably possible in those commissioners' decisions which are copied and issued, and such decisions will therefore not, in particular. include the name of the claimant.
(4) The selection of decisions for reporting will continue to be made by the chief commissioner after consultation with commissioners; there is also a general standing invitation to comment on the "report worthiness" of any decision.
(5) Commissioners' decisions on appeals and references., whether reported or not, may be cited to the commissioners at oral hearings subject to seven days notice being given.
It is intended that the revised arrangements will be brought into operation from 1 April 1987 onwards.