Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will release the criteria used by social security tribunals in determining whether to expedite the hearing of appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on benefit entitlement.

The question of expedition is at the discretion of a judge who will make a case management decision on the issue taking into account all the circumstances known about the case. Such decisions may be revised on application and are subject to appeal if an error of law is made.