Social Security Tribunals

HC Deb 07 July 1998 vol 315 cc444-5W

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the procedure by which people are appointed by her Department to social security tribunals. [48323]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The Department of Social Security does not have responsibility for appointing members of appeal tribunals (including Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Disability Appeal Tribunals and Medical Appeal Tribunals).

Power to appoint lay members to tribunal jurisdictions is vested in the President of the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS). Responsibility for appointing tribunal chairmen lies with the Lord Chancellor in England and Wales or the Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland. The constitution of particular appeal tribunals is specified in legislation (Social Security Administration Act 1992 and Schedule 6 to the Social Security Act 1998).