Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many presenting officers have been recruited to represent his Department at tribunal appeals against the refusal of disability benefit in each of the last five years.

While the Department has had presenting officers in the past, 2017 was the first time that individuals were recruited specifically into that role. Therefore there are no other specific recruitment to the presenting officer role in the years prior to 2017.In 2017 DWP recruited 211 presenting officers.