HC Deb 18 July 1995 vol 263 cc1096-7W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average length of time(a) between a request for a disability living allowance review and a decision being made and (b) between lodging a disability allowance appeal and the date of a tribunal hearing; [35297]

(2) what was the number and percentage of disability living allowance decisions where the adjudication officer required (a) an examining medical officer's report, (b) a general practitioner's factual report and (c) any other evidence, between February 1994 and February 1995; [35299]

(3) how many requests for disability living allowance appeals (a) were received by his Department and (b) were outstanding in each month between February 1994 and February 1995 inclusive. [35300]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

The information is not available in the format requested. Clearance times on reviews for the 1994–95 year was 82 per cent. cleared in 55 working days and 92 per cent. in 75 days against a target of 60 per cent. in 55 days and 80 per cent. in 75 days. For appeals, only one figure is held by the Independent Tribunal Service for both disability living allowance and disability working allowance. From the lodgement of the appeal to the first hearing, the average time in 23 weeks.

Disability living allowance decisions by type of evidence (between 1 February 1994 and 28 February 1995)
Number (000s) Per cent.
Total decisions1 456 100
Examining medical officer's report 82 18
General practitioner's report 160 35
Claim Pack2 196 43
Any other evidence 18 4

Note:

1 Excludes cases where the type of evidence is not known

2 Includes any supporting statements.

Source:

Analytical Services Division: 100 per cent. data.

DLA appeals (February 1994–February 1995)
Month Registered Outstanding
1994
February 2,426 17,546
March 2,521 16,988
April 1,932 16,395
May 1,717 15,716
June 1,627 14,849
July 1,972 14,499
August 2,369 14,441
September 2,568 14,383
October 2,466 14,582
November 3,124 15,758
December 1,941 16,245
1995
January 2,574 17,611
February 2,857 17,271

Source:

DLA Management Support Unit.