Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, at how many tribunal hearings on appeals over benefit claims in each of the last four years the relevant Department failed to send a presenting officer; and how many such hearings were lost by the Government.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The First-tier Tribunal – Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work & Pensions’ (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) decisions on a range of benefits. It also hears appeals against Local Authorities on Housing Benefit decisions.

The table below shows the data requested for each year from 1 April 2010 until December 2013 (the latest period for data is available).

It is a matter for the relevant Department or Local Authority as to whether they send a presenting Officer to an appeal unless directed to do so by the Tribunal. Departments and Local Authorities will consider each appeal on a case by case basis.