Dr. Devesh Singh:

I thank the Deputy very much for his question. In terms of medical assessment for disability allowance, what we see annually is approximately 48% to 50% being turned down. The biggest reason for that is lack of material information. We really need a comprehensive set of information, both medical and non-medical, to make a qualitative decision on those applications.

In terms of improving the quality of information we get from customers, we have attempted to revise over the years the structure and content of the application forms. Now, what we have is a composite DA1 application form. That will help to provide us with good quality information at the first part of the claim stage.

In terms of the ones that go for appeal, in a nutshell, more than one third of them are revised by the deciding officers. This is based on the information that comes in. The other two thirds are allowed by appeal officers at the end of the appeal process. We can provide the Deputy with exact data for appeal figures but that is the overall process.