§ Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what remuneration, pensions and allowances are paid by his Department to persons who are appointed under the Social Security Act 1998 to act as members of an appeal tribunal; and if he will make a statement. [103731]
§ Angela EagleMy right hon. and noble Friend The Lord Chancellor has set up a panel of persons to act as members of appeal tribunals and has made all appointments to it. The panel has 67 full-time members (excluding the President of appeal tribunals), all of whom are legally qualified. There are 1,971 part-time members with legal, medical and financial qualifications and with experience of dealing with the needs of disabled persons.
Full-time panel members are salary paid. The average annual salaries at November 1999 were £99,022 for panel members heading the six regions within the Appeals Service and £83,146 for the remaining full-time members. Travelling and, where applicable, subsistence allowances are also payable to full-time panel members where they are required to attend a tribunal hearing away from their normal venue.
As judicial appointments, full-time panel members belong to the Judicial Pensions Scheme but some have elected to have their pension benefits paid by analogy with the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Part-time panel members are paid on a daily or sessional (half day) basis. The current rate of fees is set out in the following table:
£ Fee per session per day Preparation fee1 Legally qualified 138.50 277.00 230.00 360.00 Medically qualified (non-specialist) 103.00 206.00 — Medically qualified (specialist) 126.00 252.00 227.00 354.00 Financially qualified 118.50 237.00 — Experience of disability 63.50 127.00 — 1 Preparation fees are payable to legally qualified panel members and medical specialists who hear appeals relating to Industrial Injuries Scheme benefits, Severe Disablement Allowance and Vaccine Damage 2 Per session 3 Per day Pensions are not payable to part-time panel members, but they may claim travel expenses for journeys between their home and tribunal venues. Where applicable, subsistence allowance is also payable.
Other fees and allowances payable include training fees, lengthy attendance fees and fees for sessions which are cancelled.