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3 Jun 2003 : Column 396W—continued
Vaccine Damage Tribunals
Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims have been made to vaccine damage tribunals in each year since 1990; and how many of those claims, in each year, have been successful (a) on first hearing and (b) on appeal. [114680]
Maria Eagle: The information is in the table. Claims are initially made to the Vaccine Damage Payment (VDP) Unit. Decisions on claims are made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the basis of a Medical Adviser's assessment of the percentage level of disablement and whether it is the result of vaccination. If a claim is disallowed the vaccinated person may appeal to an independent tribunal or ask for a decision to be reversed.
| Year | Claims received by VDP Unit | Initial award | Award following a section 3A reversal(59) | Award following appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1991 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1992 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 1995 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1996 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 152 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 177 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 82 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 171 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | 176 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 406 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 1592 | 18 | 2 | 26 |
(58) Total awards made on claims received between 01/01/1990 and 20/05/2003 = 46. These figures do not take account of the actual date the payment was made, nor do they take account of any cases where an award has occurred following a Section 3A reversal or an appeal after 01/01/1990, where the claim under consideration was actually received prior to 01/01/1990 (i.e. a claim received by the VDPU in 1984 that went to Appeal in 2002, resulting in an award in 2003 would not be shown in the above figures as the claim was not received after 01/01/1990).
(59) Section 3A of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act states that the Secretary of State may reverse his own decision or that of an appeal tribunal. Application for reversal must be made within a prescribed period.
Vulnerable Groups Regulations
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve the access of people to eligibility under the Vulnerable Groups Regulations to help those people with paying their water bills. [116378]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
The Department issued a consultation paper, "Reductions for Vulnerable Groups", on 25 February 2003. A copy is available in the House Library. The
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paper discussed a range of options for amending the regulations to deliver more assistance to vulnerable households. One of the areas reviewed in the paper was how to improve access and awareness of the scheme for those already eligible for assistance. We shall publish a response to consultation this summer.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to re-examine his proposals for the Vulnerable Groups Regulations in respect of assisting people to pay their water bills. [116379]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
The Department issued a consultation paper, "Reductions for Vulnerable Groups", on 25 February 2003. A copy is available in the House Library. The paper discussed a range of options for amending the regulations to deliver more assistance to vulnerable households. We shall publish a response to the consultation this summer.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total number of
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pensioners in (a) Leeds and (b) the Leeds, West constituency who receive winter fuel payments. [116008]
Maria Eagle: Winter Fuel Payments are made to most people aged 60 and over, regardless of whether they are receiving a State Pension. In winter 2001–02,133,000 people in Leeds local authority area and 14,800 in Leeds West constituency received a Winter Fuel Payment.
- Source:Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 2001–02 exercise.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Tax Credits
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have applied for the tax credits benefit in Northern Ireland; and what the average waiting time between application and receipt of benefit has been. [115699]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Cable) on 20 May 2003, Official Report, column 671W.