§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against decisions on the payment of winter fuel allowance have been heard in each financial year since its inception; how many appeals have been upheld; and what the breakdown was of reasons for granting the appeals. [107162]
§ Maria EagleInformation on the number of appeals is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is given in the table.438W
Appeals for winter Number heard Number upheld 2000–1 1008 17 2001–2 163 12 Source:
Winter Fuel Payment Centre records
No appeals have yet been held for this winter (2002–03) but there are two awaiting allocation of dates for a tribunal hearing.
The 29 appeals which were allowed concerned late claims. The tribunals' reasons varied according to the circumstances of the individual case but generally they found, on the evidence presented and in accordance with their interpretation of the relevant regulations, that some of the claims were made on time and others should have been paid automatically.