§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department has spent in each of the last three years on legal representations before the National Insurance Commissioners on(a) in-house legal advice, (b) legal advice from Treasury solicitors, (c) junior counsel and (d) QCs in each of the last three years. [111400]
§ Angela EagleThe information is in the table.
£ 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 In-house legal advice1 214,236.88 211,192.05 221,300.56 Legal advice from Treasury solicitors 0 0 0 Junior Council 21,661.05 20,173.87 8,203.00 QCs2 0 2,367.63 6,310.00 1 Estimated on basis that staff involved spend 50 per cent, of their time on work on appeals to the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners. 2 Junior Council and QCs charges for 45 weeks only, up to week commencing 14 February 2000.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of benefit in the most recent available year(a) in dispute before appeals to the National Insurance Commissioners by claimants, (b) in dispute before appeals to the National Insurance Commissioners by the DSS, (c) awarded as a consequence of successful appeal to the National Insurance Commissioners and (d) reduced, removed or not awarded as a consequence of a decision by National Insurance Commissioners. [111399]
§ Angela EagleThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in respect of requests for written reasons preparatory to lodging an application for leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioners, what was(a) the average, (b) the median and (c) the longest time between (i) the request being received and the written reasons prepared and (ii) the reasons being prepared and communicated to the claimant in each of the last three years; [111402]
(2) how many applications for leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioners were made to appeal tribunal chairmen; of these how many were (a) refused, (b) renewed by application to the commissioners and (c) granted leave in each of the last three years; [111404]
(3) how many cases remitted to appeal tribunals after successful appeals to the National Insurance Commissioners were successful on rehearing; what was (a) the average, (b) the median and (c) the longest time between the date of decision of the Commissioners and the decision being communicated to the claimant in each of the last three years; [111403]
(4) in relation to cases in which leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioners was granted; what was (a) the average, (b) the median and (c) the longest time between leave being granted and the bundle of documents being transmitted to the Commissioners by the appeal tribunal in each of the last three years. [111401]
§ Angela EagleThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.