asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to announce whether the proposals in the consultation paper Transforming Tribunals will be adjusted in any way to retain the Pensions Appeal Tribunal as a discrete specialised jurisdiction for determining war pension appeals. [HL3048]

Transforming Tribunals was published on 28 November, both in hard copy and on the Ministry of Justice website. The consultation closed on 22 February 2008 and analysis of responses received is currently under way.

The Government are committed to publishing their response to the consultation in May. I refer to my earlier Answer in the House of Lords on 25 February where I confirmed that members of the existing tribunal will be transferred into the new statutory tribunal structure to continue their excellent work in the same way as at present and to preserve the tribunal's expertise.

In addition Lord Justice Carnwath, the Senior President of Tribunals, has made it clear that one of his principal objectives in the coming months will be to ensure that the changes do not come at the expense of continuity, specialisation or service to users.