§ Hywel WilliamsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what the average waiting time from application to hearing for cases before the Social Security Commissioners was in the last three years in(a) Wales and (b) England; [167983]
(2) what the average waiting time from application to hearing for cases before the Social Security Commissioners was in each of the last three years for cases heard (a) wholly or partly in Welsh and (b) in English. [167986]
§ Mr. LammyThe Social Security Commissioners receive applications from the claimant, which are then considered by the Commissioners, and a ruling issued. The Commissioners will either grant or refuse leave to appeal. If leave to appeal is granted the appeal then proceeds to hearing. No cases before the Social Security Commissioners have been heard either wholly or partly in Welsh during the last three years. The Office of the Social Security Commissioners does not hold separate 1247W statistical information relating to waiting times for cases in either Wales or England. The average waiting times for an application for leave to appeal, and for appeals granted leave to proceed to hearing, over the last three years, are as follows:
Weeks Period Average waiting time for application
decision
Average waiting time from decision
to hearing1
2001–02 16 34 2002–03 10 21 2003–04 8 20 1Please note that waiting time figures have been rounded up or down where appropriate.
§ Hywel WilliamsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what written and other information material is provided(a) in Welsh and (b) bilingually to people taking cases to the Social Security Commissioners. [167984]
§ Mr. LammyThe Office for the Social Security Commissioners has an internet site which is accessible in Welsh or English which provides a range of information in relation to the procedures of the Commissioners. Work is currently ongoing in translating the Social Security Commissioners appeal form, and an information leaflet, into the Welsh language.
§ Hywel WilliamsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases from Wales were heard in each of the last three years by the Social Security Commissioners; and how many of these were heard partly or wholly through the medium of Welsh. [167985]
§ Mr. LammyThe Office of the Social Security Commissioners does not hold statistical information relating to the volume of cases received principally from Wales. However, over the last three years there have been 73 cases heard orally in Cardiff for which proceedings were conducted in English.
§ Hywel WilliamsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what provision is available for cases before the Social Security Commissioners to be heard either wholly or partly in Welsh in respect of(a) cases heard in Wales and (b) cases from Wales heard in England. [167987]
§ Mr. LammyA standard direction applies to cases received from Wales. This states that "A notice that it is intended to use Welsh must(a) identify those parts of the case or hearing in which Welsh will be used and (b) be given to the commissioner as soon as possible and in any event at least 21 days before any oral hearing. If notice is given that Welsh will be used the Commissioner will make any further directions that are necessary or expedient". This direction covers all cases received from Wales irrespective of whether they are heard in Wales or England.
§ Hywel WilliamsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases from Wales were heard by the Social Security Commissioners in England in each of the last three years. [168018]
1248W
§ Mr. LammyThe Office of the Social Security Commissioners does not hold statistical information relating to the number of cases received from Wales and subsequently heard in England.