§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the time within which an appeal against a decision of the Benefits Agency must be heard; and what provision is made in the citizens charter for this.
§ Mr. BurtThere is no statutory time limit within which appeals against decisions of adjudication officers in the Benefits Agency should be heard. However, both the Benefits Agency and the independent tribunal service are committed to handling appeals as expeditiously as possible. There is no specific provision in the citizens charter on time limits for hearing such appeals.