HC Deb 21 November 1996 vol 285 cc691-3W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of appellants who did not attend social security appeal tribunal hearings gave advance notice that they would not be present in the last available year. [5151]

Mr. Roger Evans

This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 14 November,Official Report, column 328, when the Council on Tribunals was assured that his Department would make appellants aware of the consequences of not opting for an oral hearing; and if that communication was included in the correspondence with the Council on Tribunals placed in the Library. [5259]

Mr. Evans

Discussions with the Council on Tribunals are conducted on a confidential basis. However, in the case of the letter sent to the council formally consulting on the regulations, their reply, and a further letter from the Department, have been placed in the Library to assist understanding of the purpose and effect of these regulations.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 4 November,Official Report, column 386, and of 14 November, Official Report, column 328, for what reasons the appeal form approved on 27 September was not available to appellants on 21 October when the Social Security (Adjudication) and Child Support Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1996 came into force; when he was informed that it would not be available on that date; and for what reason a copy of it was not placed in the Library on 4 November in response to the request by the hon. Member for Newport, West. [5265]

Mr. Evans

The printing and production of the revised leaflet was more difficult than normal, and did take longer, because of the physical structure of the leaflet and fold-out form. Arrangements were in place for the continued use of the existing form until the new version could be distributed and appellants would not be disadvantaged during the changeover period. As I said in my letter of 14 November to members of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, a copy of which has been placed in the Library I regret that the answer at column386 of 4 November was incorrect. On that day, the form placed in the Library was the April 1996 version. The revised version was not available from the printers until late on 18 November and has been placed in the Library. During the course of the debate in the Sixth Standing Committee, I became aware that the correct form was not available and the incorrect form had been placed in the Library.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 November,Official Report, column 328, what proportion of the total number of tribunal chairmen and members the 100 copies of the Green Paper and summary sent to the independent tribunal service represented; [5257]

(2) if he will extend the closing date for responses to the consultation paper "Improving decision making and appeals in Social Security", so that all chairmen and members of tribunals can be invited to respond. [5258]

Mr. Evans

There are some 6,000 chairmen and members within the independent tribunal service. The ITS is an independent body and distribution of the consultation paper "Improving decision making and appeals in Social Security" within the service is a matter for the president. At the president's request, copies of the consultation paper were sent direct to all regional and full-time chairmen. Additional copies were also sent to the president at his request. The consultation period ran from 23 July to 18 October and the Government have no plans to extend the closing date for comments. Responses were received both from the president—reflecting replies he had received from tribunal members—and, separately. from a number of chairmen and members. Independent analysis of the responses is now under way.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchcliffe) of 13 November,Official Report, columns 270–71, by whom the responses to the consultation paper "Improving decision making and appeals in Social Security" are being independently analysed. [5256]

Mr. Evans

The independent analysis of the responses to the consultation document "Improving decision making and appeals in Social Security" is being undertaken by Dr. Roy Sainsbury of the social policy research unit at York university.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has received from the independent tribunal service regarding the arrangements for tribunal members to receive the documents relating to appeals in advance of the hearing where an oral hearing is not requested. [5260]

Mr. Evans

This is a matter for the president of the independent tribunal service whom I understand has written to the hon. Member to explain the arrangements he has put in place.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will have collated the information on the effect of the Social Security (Adjudication) and Child Support Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1996 on the number of appeals to each type of tribunal affected by them and the numbers of oral hearings resulting from those appeals. [5266]

Mr. Evans

An evaluation of the impact of the changes will be carried out over the first year of operation. However, we expect to have some interim results after about six months.

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