§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many appeals against decisions made at(a) all-work tests and (b) personal capability assessments were (i) heard and decided and (ii) decided in the appellant's favour in each of the last 10 years; [58756]
(2) what the average length of time was between lodging an appeal against (a) an all-work test and (b) a personal capability assessment decision and having that appeal heard in each of the last 10 years. [58757]
§ Maria EagleThis is a matter for Neil Ward, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to the hon. Gentleman.
Letter from Neil Ward to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 24 June 2002:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent parliamentary questions on the subject of appeals against all work tests and personal capability assessments. You asked:
939WHow many appeals against decisions made at all work tests and personal capability assessments were (i) heard and decided and (ii) decided in the appellants favour in each of the last 10 years (58756), and;What the average length of time was between the lodging of an appeal against an all work test and a personal capability assessment decision, and having the appeal heard in each of the last 10 years (58757).Figures are not available for the last 10 years as requested, but are available from 1998.The information is in the following table.
The number of all work test/personal capability assessment appeals heard (in relation to current IS, IB and SDA case loads), found in favour of the appellant, and the average time taken between receipt at the Appeals Service and first hearing 1998 1999 2000 2001 Income support case load 3,824,000 3,834,600 3,876,700 3,949,600 Incapacity benefit case load 2,299,700 2,267,400 2,310,400 2,342,900 Severe disablement allowance case load 371,600 370,100 367,500 362,300 Number of appeals heard 56,910 53,580 37,935 30,880 Number of appeals found in favour of the appellant 23,410 22,625 15,535 13,110 Average waiting time, in weeks, between receipt at the Appeals Service and first hearing 22.7 17.2 11.7 12.1 I hope this is helpful.