§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the average waiting time for appeal hearings at each of his Department's medical appeal tribunals within the Yorkshire area.
§ Mr. PortilloReliable estimates of average waiting times for medical appeal tribunal hearings are not currently available. The president of social security appeal tribunals and medical appeal tribunals has advised that a revised management information system is being established for medical appeal tribunals which will enable the accurate measurement of waiting times, but that reliable estimates will not be available until later this year. I would be happy to refer any specific concerns of the hon. Member to the president.