HC Deb 09 June 1999 vol 332 cc339-40W
Mr. Etherington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to evaluate the impact on claimants' decisions of the change in the composition of social security appeal tribunals; [86154]

(2) what representations he has received about the change in the composition of social security appeal tribunals; and if he will make a statement. [86155]

Angela Eagle

Schedule 6 of the Social Security Act 1998 provides powers for the President of the Independent Tribunal Service to vary the composition of certain Social Security Appeal Tribunals. These changes are in advance of the implementation of the main provisions of the Act which remove the rigid requirement for all benefit and child support appeals to be heard by a three person tribunal.

Consultation and representations on the changes under Schedule 6 to the composition of Social Security Appeal Tribunals are matters which fall to His Honour, the President of the Independent Tribunal Service. The President also gave commitments to monitor these changes. The President's early monitoring of the changes provides no evidence to suggest that the percentage of appeals upheld has been affected by the introduction of flexible composition.