To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time taken by the Cardiff office of the Appeals Service was to review decisions on applications for (a) disability living allowance and (b) all benefits in the latest period for which information is available; and how many appeals submitted to that office for review were outstanding on 31 January 2009. (269510)

In 2008-09 the average time taken by the First-tier Tribunal Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) office in Cardiff to review decisions on applications for (a) disability living allowance was 10.84 weeks and (b) all benefits was 11.85 weeks. The national target for SSCS appeals is to ensure that 75 per cent. of all appeals should receive a first hearing within 14 weeks of receipt. There were 9,455 appeals outstanding in the Cardiff office on 31 January 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department has issued to the Appeals Service on the maximum time for making determinations on appeals against decisions on disability living allowance applications. (269803)

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is not responsible for setting performance targets for the tribunals service, as the tribunals service is an agency within the Ministry of Justice. The Tribunals Service Business Plan for 2008-2009 contained agreed strategic objectives, service delivery targets and performance indicators. The tribunal seeks to ensure that 75 per cent. of all social security appeals receive a first hearing within 14-weeks of receipt.