§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of appeals submitted(a) for a paper hearing and (b) for an oral hearing to the Independent Tribunal Service were successful in each of the last three years; and in the case of paper hearings, if he will make it a duty of the Tribunal Service (i) to avail itself of the relevant information from the appellant's general practitioner and consultants or (ii) explain to the appellant that he should obtain this information for the tribunal. [64660]
§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
Proportion of oral and paper hearings Hearing type All Oral Paper 1997 All cases heard and decided 22,571 12,577 9,994 Percentage in appellant's favour 30.0 43.6 12.9 1998 All cases heard and decided 251,321 170,332 80,989 Percentage in appellant's favour 33.9 43.1 14.5 Note:
The figures for 1997 represent a small number of cases due to the introduction of GAPS. Most cases heard and decided during this year (and 1996) were cleared from the old ITS computer system which did not record the oral/paper split. The figures for 1998 contain details of all hearings recorded on GAPS up to the end of October.
Source:
100 per cent. download from the ITS Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS).
In the case of medical evidence for paper hearings, the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) explains in a pre-hearing information leaflet sent to appellants that they are responsible for providing reports from general practitioners and consultants before the hearing. However, if further medical evidence is required by the tribunal, it is the tribunal's responsibility to obtain it. The new Appeals Service will give similar information in leaflets for appellants.