§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many appeals to the social security commissioner were lodged during the last year for which statistics are available concerning mobility allowance; what proportion of all claims for mobility allowance in that year they represented; and how many such appeals resulted either in the case being remitted for reconsideration by the medical appeal tribunal or in the commissioner substituting his or her own decision for that of the medical appeal tribunal;
(2) how many appeals to the social security commissioner were lodged in the last year for which statistics are available concerning attendance allowance; what proportion of all attendance allowance claims in that year they represented; and how many such appeals resulted in the case being remitted to the attendance allowance board for reconsideration.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
The information requested is given in the table. No figures are available for the number of cases remitted to medical appeal tribunals. Commissioners are not empowered to substitute their decisions for those given on medical questions by medical appeal tribunals.
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Appeals to the Social Security Commissioner (England, Wales and Scotland) Figures for year 1989 Benefit Attendance allowance Mobility allowance Number of claims lodged with DSS1 365,219 203,590 Number of appeals to OSSC Direct 3 72 Deemed2 491 217 Total 494 289 Appeal as percentage of claims lodged 0.135 0.142
Benefit Attendance allowance Mobility allowance Total number of appeals decided 225 246 Number decided in claimant's favour 3175 202 Number remitted2 170 4 1 Department of Social Security figures. 2 Successful applications for leave converted to appeals (Reg. 5(2) SI 1987 No. 214). 3 The difference between the number decided in the claimant's favour and the number remitted to the Attendance Allowance Board reflects the time delay in handling over the period. 4 Not available.