asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of appeals relating to the right to or amount of supplementary benefit, in the last period of 12 months for which
the area, and population of the area, which they serve.
The information is as follows:figures are available, was decided in favour of the appellant, respectively, in England and Wales and in each region.
Following is the information for the 12 months ending 31st December 1974: England, 18·7 per cent.; Wales, 16·7 per cent.The figures for each region are:
| per cent. | |
| Northern | 19·7 |
| Yorks and Humberside | 19·0 |
| E Mids/E Anglia | 20·0 |
| London North | 23·6 |
| London South | 16·8 |
| London West | 19·8 |
| South Western | 24·5 |
| W. Midlands | 17·0 |
| NW (Manchester) | 13·0 |
| NW (Merseyside) | 16·1 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Service how many applicants before supplementary benefit appeal tribunals, in the latest period of 12 months, were unrepresented, represented by solicitors, by social or welfare workers, by friends or relatives, and by claimants' unions, trade unions or voluntary organisations, respectively; in respect of each category how many appellants failed themselves to attend the hearing; and in how many cases a decision was given in the appellant's favour among those, respectively, who did and did not personally attend.
I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.