To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases submitted to the Healthcare Commission have waited longer than 12 months before the investigation started; and in how many cases submitted the investigation has not yet started; (84679)

I understand from the chairman of the Healthcare Commission that the Commission does not collect information in the format requested.

The Healthcare Commission assumed responsibility for the independent review of national health service complaints at the end of July 2004. Between then and 14 July 2006, the Commission received 15,765 requests for review. Of these, 5,615 were closed within six months and 3,670 within 12 months, with a further 1,310 taking over 12 months. Of the remainder, 2,141 have yet to be allocated to a case manager. Of these, 1,041 are over six months old; none are over 12 months old. Of cases currently under review, 882 are over six months old and 805 over 12 months old.