HC Deb 29 March 2001 vol 365 cc775-7W
Mr. Nicholls

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the average clearance time for appeals against benefit assessments in each of the last four years; [155885]

(2) how many appeals were made during the last 12 months against benefit assessments and how many of these appeals are outstanding; [155886]

(3) if he will set out the strategy implemented by the Appeals Service in order to reduce waiting times for all appellants; and what assessment he has made of its success; [155887]

(4) how many appeals were heard by the Appeals Service in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to A 2000; and how many of the appeals in each of these years were successful; [155888]

Appeals received Average clearance time for appeals from lodgement at first tier agency in weeks Number of appeals heard and decided Number of appeals found in weeks appellant's favour
1 May 1997 to 30 April 1998 300,389 25.2 158,8381 50,4661
I May 1998 to 30 April 1999 316,395 30.3 282,535 98,516
I May 1999 to 30 April 2000 247,294 31.4 207,724 75,810
1 May 2000 to 30 September 2000 108,879 28.8 70,564 28,668
1 Figures include appeals not held on the GAPS system for the period 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1997.

Notes:

1. Information taken from 100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS).

2. The table covers appeals from all sources. It is not possible to distinguish appeals against benefit assessments.

3. Figures may change as later data becomes available.

Since taking up post as Chief Executive in 1999, initially of the Independent Tribunal Service and now o the Appeals Service, I have been fully committed to improving the services that we offer to appellants and others who use or rely upon our services. I have set about this systematically, in three ways:

  1. (i) The backlog of oldest cases I inherited has been tackled and largely cleared. At the end of February 1999, over half—some 77,000 appeals—of our outstanding appeals load were over six months old and many of them considerably older. Priority was given to clearing these appeals on the basis that all appeals were—and still are—death with on the basis of "First In, First Out", with staff and tribunal members alike seeing wherever possible to clear the oldest cases first. Of that original 77,000 just over 800 remain and these are almost entirely appeals awaiting decisions from higher courts on lead cases, the outcome of which will have a direct bearing on the outstanding appeals.
  2. (ii) At the same time and for newer appeals, we have sought to reduce both the waiting times that appellants have to wait to have their appeal heard and, where cases are adjourned by tribunals, the length of time they remain outstanding. These measures are now reflected in the targets the Secretary of State has set for the Appeal Service Agency and performance will be reported in the Agency's Annual Report. Currently, the national average waiting time for appellants is

(5) how many appeals were lodged with the Appeals Service following refusal of benefit in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000. [155889]

Angela Eagle

The administration of appeals is a matter for Neil Ward, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Neil Ward to Mr. Patrick Nicholls, dated 29 March 2001: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions. You asked:

  1. 1) What has been the average clearance time for appeals against benefit assessments in each of the last four years (PQ983).
  2. 2) How many appeals were made during the last 12 months against benefit assessments; and how many of these appeals are outstanding (PQ984).
  3. 3) What strategy was implemented by the Appeals Service in order to reduce waiting times for all appellants; and what assessment has been made of its success (PQ985).
  4. 4) How many appeals were heard by the Appeals Service in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and how many of the appeals in each of these years were successful;(PQ986).
  5. 5) How many appeals were lodged with the Appeals Service following refusal of benefit in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000 (PQ987).

I am unable to provide all the information in the form you have requested it. However the information that is available is as follows:

  1. 13.7 weeks and some 23 per cent. of our outstanding appeals are over six months old, of which 7,600 appeals cannot proceed until lead cases with higher counts are decided. The current number of appeals outstanding and sitting with the Appeals Service is some 77,600. This progress reflects improvements in delivery of our services in all regions although the extent of the gains varies. Particular attention is now being paid to reducing variations in performance aimed at bringing performance everywhere up to the standards of the best of our offices and we have strengthened our direct service delivery teams accordingly.
  2. (iii) To secure these gains, the Appeals Service has had to become a learning organisation. We have secured Investors in People accreditation and place great importance on practical training programmes designed to improve service delivery. We use the European Foundation for Quality Management's Excellence Model to identify internally areas for improvement; we have run customer and staff surveys to tell us where those who use or operate our services believe improvements can best be made; and we make use of direct feedback from individual appellants, their representatives, Members of Parliament or the Ombudsman.

Improvements are being made and will continue to be so.

I hope this information is helpful.