§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals are currently outstanding from the social security appeal tribunal; and what is the average time for those appeals to be dealt with at all levels.
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for the administration of social security appeals lies with the president of social security and medical appeal tribunals, His Honour Judge Holden. He has advised that the total number of appeals outstanding at the social security appeal tribunals, as at 8 January 1991, is 22,823.
The latest figures available for processing appeals are those for the quarter ending 31 March 1990. The average times for that quarter were:
- (a) from lodgement to receipt of the submission by the tribunal clerk—10.2 weeks;
- (b) from lodgement to the date of hearing—23 weeks.