To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time of applications for (a) new and (b) reassessed claims was in (i) the UK and (ii) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. (321453)

Information is only available for Great Britain. Information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The available information for local authorities in Great Britain between 2003-04 and 2007-08 has been placed in the Library. The data quality for 2008-09 was not high enough for publication.

The Department has been working with local authorities to improve data quality. This month we intend to publish processing time information for April to September 2009, for between 270 and 300 local authorities whose data meets official statistics standards.