Social Security Appeals Service (Hansard, 25 November 2002)

HC Deb 25 November 2002 vol 395 c25W 25W

§ Mr. McGrady
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources will be available to the Social Security Appeals Service to address the backlog in cases awaiting tribunal hearings. [82763]

§ Mr. Browne
Funding of almost £600,000 was made available to the appeals service during 2002–03 to fund the cost of 20 additional staff, overtime working and the payment of fees to 25 newly appointed Tribunal members. As a result of this the number of hearings was increased by 17 per cent and the number of appeals outstanding has reduced by 33 per cent.