Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit – 10 April 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Supplementary Benefit on 10th April 1986.

Mr. Wareing Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit appeals are outstanding in the Merseyside region; to what extent the number of tribunal sittings has increased; and if he will make a statement on the current position.

Mr. Major At the end of March 1985, the latest date for which national statistics are available, there were 5,216 supplementary benefit appeals in the north-western region which had been lodged but not yet heard by a tribunal. The local DHSS offices had forwarded submissions to the tribunal clerk in respect of 3,854 of these appeals. I understand that since then the number of tribunal sittings has been increased and are now running at some 130 sittings a week in the region. The president of Social Security Appeal Tribunals is responsible for the administration of these tribunals, and any further information may be obtained from his office.