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10 Feb 2004 : Column 1334W—continued

Electoral Law

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the procedure for declaration of donations by independent candidates in elections. [153657]

Mr. Leslie: The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 established a new system for governing the regular disclosure of donations to registered political parties, a system which did not extend to independent candidates as—by definition—they have no organised party base behind them. Nevertheless, all individuals are required separately by the Representation of the People Act 1983 to record election expenses and campaign income received from the moment they officially become election candidates, whether party nominees or independents. Donations of more than 50 have to be reported in these election expenses returns to Returning Officers.

Law Commission Reports

Dr. Palmer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Government will respond to (a) the Law Commission report on limitation of actions, ref. (2001) Law Com No. 270, (b) the consultation issued in September 2002 on the Law Commission report on third party rights against insurers, ref. Law Com No. 272, (c) claims for wrongful deaths, ref. (1999) Law Com No. 263 and (d) liability for psychiatric injury ref. (1998) Law Com No. 249. [153415]

Mr. Lammy: The information is as follows:

(a) In July 2002, the Government announced their acceptance in principle of the recommendations for reform of the 1980 Act contained in the Law Commission report "Limitation of Actions", subject to further consideration of certain aspects. Legislation will be introduced to implement those recommendations which are accepted when an opportunity arises.

(b) The Government will publish the post-consultation report on Third Parties—Rights Against Insurers this month.

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(c) and (d) The Government are currently considering the proposals in the Law Commission reports on damages in light of developments since their publication, with a view to consulting further as appropriate.

Legal Aid

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current (a) method and (b) level of funding for legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [153353]

Mr. Lammy: My Department and the Legal Services Commission are continually reviewing the methods and levels of funding for legal aid, to ensure that those who need help the most continue to receive help while providing the best value for money for the taxpayer. In addition, my Department formally announced in June a review of supply, demand and purchasing arrangements within the legal aid system. Due to concern that there could be a shortage of high quality legal aid lawyers, the review will establish the costs, fees and conditions necessary to attract and maintain well-qualified legal aid lawyers. The report by the consultants conducting the review was received in December 2003. It addressed alternative procurement methods for legal services. The final report is about to be published.

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people used legal aid in the last year for which figures are available. [153355]

Mr. Lammy: The Legal Services Commission is unable to answer the question in the form requested as its systems record the number of acts of assistance rather than the number of clients assisted, which is not necessarily reflective of the number of individuals involved. The total acts of assistance for 2002–03 was 2,658,000.

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of the legal aid budget in 2003–04 has been spent on criminal cases. [153356]

Mr. Lammy: In the present financial year 2003–04, to December 2003, legal aid expenditure on criminal cases amounted to 56 per cent. of total legal aid expenditure.

Legal Services

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of enabling providers other than solicitors to offer legal services directly to the public. [153358]

Mr. Lammy: The Government have commissioned an independent review of the regulation of legal services aimed at promoting competition and innovation and improving services for consumers. We are reviewing future demand for legal services and the suppliers needed particularly in the publicly funded sector. We have already decided to open up the probate market to new providers, which should enable consumers to benefit from better and more cost effective services. A

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full regulatory impact assessment of opening up the probate market will be provided when commencement orders are laid before Parliament.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of general practitioner fees on deterring those on low incomes from appealing against a benefits decision; and if he will make a statement. [153376]

Maria Eagle: General Practitioners (GPs) have an important role in providing advice on fitness for work, and supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of their patients; however, there is no need for a person to have evidence from their GP in order to appeal a benefit decision, and GPs are under no statutory obligation to provide medical evidence to their patients for the purposes of an appeal.

Appeal tribunals carry out an independent judicial function and will have available the medical evidence on a person's file, including the reports from Medical Services' doctors; in many cases a person's file will often already include factual information provided by their GP.

Carer's Allowance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) the East Midlands and (b) England and Wales receive carer's allowance. [152809]

Maria Eagle: The information requested is in the following table.

Pensioners in receipt of Carers Allowance, at 31 August 2003

	In payment
East Midlands	1,590
England	18,360
Wales	1,400

Notes:

1. Figures taken from a 100 per cent. sample at 31 August 2003.

2. Pensioners are defined as those aged 60/65+ at 31 August 2003.

3. Figures have been given for all people with Carers Allowance in payment.

Source:

IAD Information Centre.

Disability Living Allowance

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many appeals against refusal of Disability Living Allowance have been considered by the Appeals Service in each of the last 12 months in (a) the Angus constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the rest of the United Kingdom; [152570]

(2) how many successful appeals there have been against refusal of Disability Living Allowance in each of the last 12 months in (a) the Angus constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the rest of the UK. [152571]

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Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will reply to the hon. Member.

Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 10 February 2004:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions regarding:

1) the number of appeals against the refusal of disability living allowance that have been considered by the Appeals Service in each of the last 12 months in (a) the Angus constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the rest of the United Kingdom

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2) the number of successful appeals there have been against the refusal of disability living allowance in each of the last 12 months in (a) the Angus constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the rest of the United Kingdom.

The information is not available in the requested format. However such information as is available is attached in two tables. The first table shows disability living allowance appeals lodged, received, cleared at hearing and cleared in favour of the appellant in Scotland; the second table gives the same figures for Great Britain.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Disability Living Allowance Appeals lodged and received by the Appeals Service: January 2003 to December 2003, by month

	Scotland(4)
	Total DLA claimants: 2003	Lodged	Received	Cleared at hearing	Cleared in favour of appellant	Percentage cleared in favour of appellant
Year 2003		12,565	13,900	11,805	6,720	56.9
January 2003		1,040	1,125	1,075	630	58.6
February 2003	273,700	1,190	1,020	1,015	585	57.6
March 2003		1,165	1,205	940	575	61.2
April 2003		1,065	1,020	995	570	57.3
May 2003	277,700	1,140	970	960	570	59.4
June 2003		1,250	1,150	1,080	625	57.9
July 2003		1,190	1,015	930	540	58.1
August 2003	281,200	1,220	1,180	885	470	53.1
September 2003		1,265	1,270	935	500	53.5
October 2003		1,255	1,485	1,085	590	54.4
November 2003		715	1,230	1,095	610	55.7
December 2003		70	1,230	810	455	56.2

⁽⁴⁾ Scotland figures are those of the regional centre—Glasgow

		Great Britain(5)
	Total DLA claimants: 2003	Lodged	Received	Cleared at hearing	Cleared in favour of appellant	Percentage cleared in favour of appellant
Year 2003		74,775	83,505	69,880	36,850	52.7
January 2003		6,510	7,795	6,050	3,160	52.2
February 2003	2,468,900	7,400	6,595	5,615	3,015	53.7
March 2003		6,970	7,215	6,390	3,570	55.9
April 2003		6,445	6,040	5,665	3,060	54.0
May 2003	2,497,600	6,275	5,905	6,035	3,205	53.1
June 2003		7,125	6,390	6,030	3,300	54.7
July 2003		7,660	7,015	5,890	3,170	53.8
August 2003	2,527,700	6,925	6,105	5,480	2,855	52.1
September 2003		7,415	7,660	5,915	3,050	51.6
October 2003		7,250	8,720	6,130	3,100	50.6
November 2003		4,155	7,175	5,895	2,965	50.3
December 2003		645	6,890	4,785	2,400	50.2

⁽⁵⁾ The "Great Britain" figure will include a small number of cases from outside Great Britain. The Appeals Service hears appeals for Great Britain, not the United Kingdom.

Notes:

1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.

2. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five, except for total DLA claimants (2003), which are rounded to the nearest hundred, and are only available quarterly.

4. The information for Angus parliamentary constituency is not available.

Source:

IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

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