§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time taken was to review applications for(a) war disability pension and (b) war widows pension in the last year for which figures are available. [112555]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 13 May 2003]: Over the year up until April 2003 the average time taken for an appeal to be processed from the initial request for appeal until implementing payment of the award or pension was 283 days. This is within the target figure which has been set at 290 days. Statistics are compiled for all appeal cases and are not split between war disability pensions and war widow(er)s pensions. Separate figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.