§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, what is(a) the average, (b) the longest and (c) the median time taken by Social Security Commissioners between conducting an appeal hearing and reaching a decision. [97538]
§ Jane KennedyThe data requested are not held centrally and could be provided only by referring to each individual case file, which would be at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, what is(a) the average, (b) the longest and (c) the median length of time between the lodging of an appeal to the Social Security Commissioners and the hearing of the appeal. [97537]
§ Jane KennedyThe information is not available in the form requested. However, many appeals are determined without a hearing. The average waiting time from the lodging of an appeal to the Commissioner's decision for each of the last three years is as follows; 1996—54.75 weeks, 1997—54.64 weeks and 1998—64.27 weeks. The average waiting time in 1999 to the end of September is 50.9 weeks.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, what is the(a) average, (b) longest and (c) median number of appeals (i) heard and (ii) decided by Social Security Commissioners. [97539]
§ Jane KennedyThe data are not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the table gives the number of appeals determined in each year and the number of oral hearings conducted by the Commissioners.
Year Appeals determined Oral hearings 1996 4,197 340 1997 3,926 326 1998 4,317 254
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last three years, how many appeals were lodged with the Social Security Commissioners; and how many were successful(a) in full and (b) in part. [97536]
504W
§ Jane KennedyThe number of appeals lodged and the number of appeals which were successful are detailed in the table. Information is not kept as to whether appeals were successful in full or in part and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Year Appeals lodged Appeals determined Appeals determined in Claimant's favour 1996 3,731 4,197 1,909 1997 3,400 3,926 2,939 1998 2,688 4,317 3,210