§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure greater transparency in the allocation of funds by local education authorities to individual pupils with special educational needs. [101467]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 7 December 1999]: We have taken steps to require local education authorities to publish budget statements which make clear the amounts retained centrally and the amounts delegated to schools to make provision for children with special educational
Percentage 1997–98 1998–99 April-November 1999 To complete the calculation of ill health benefits or short service incapacity grants within 20 days of receiving approval of the application 91 98 91.7 Requests for further medical evidence to be made within 5 days of notification — 100 97.8 To inform applicants for ill health retirement of the decision within 10 days of medical advisers notification — — 98.9 The figures for applications rejected and successful appeals are as follows. Successful appeals usually result from further medical evidence being received.
Number rejected Successful appeals 1997–98 1,227 382 1998–99 788 179 April-September 1999 288 13 1 Does not include appeals still under consideration.