Whilst high level clearance target performance data is routinely included in the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Annual Report, the Office only retain case specific information for 26 months following case closure, and as such the requested information is only available for 2017/18 and the current reporting year. The available information is provided in the tables below.<\/p>
<\/p>
Resolution<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Year<\/p><\/td> Mean - Time taken to resolve complaints that were not cleared within 8 weeks of the complaint being accepted for investigation<\/p><\/td> Median - Time taken to resolve complaints that were not cleared within 8 weeks of the complaint being accepted for investigation<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18 (April to March)<\/p><\/td> 11 weeks<\/p><\/td> 10 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19 (April to February 2019)<\/p><\/td> 11 weeks<\/p><\/td> 10 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Settlement<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Year<\/p><\/td> Mean - Time taken to settle complaints that were not cleared within 15 weeks of the investigation commencing<\/p><\/td> Median - Time taken to settle complaints that were not cleared within 15 weeks of the investigation commencing<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18 (April to March)<\/p><\/td> 23 weeks<\/p><\/td> 21 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19 (April to February 2019)<\/p><\/td> 23 weeks<\/p><\/td> 22 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> ICE Report<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Year<\/p><\/td> Mean - Time taken to issue ICE Reports in those cases that were not concluded within 20 weeks of the investigation commencing<\/p><\/td> Median - Time taken to issue ICE Reports in those cases that were not concluded within 20 weeks of the investigation commencing<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18 (April to March)<\/p><\/td> 30 weeks<\/p><\/td> 28 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19 (April to February 2019)<\/p><\/td> 27 weeks<\/p><\/td> 26 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-12T15:58:27.29Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Independent Case Examiner"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2019 to Question 210057, for each available year, what the (a) mean and (b) median waiting time is for complaints (i) which are not resolved within eight weeks of being accepted, (ii) which are not settled within 15 weeks of the investigation commencing and (iii) where an ICE report is not issued within 20 weeks of the investigation commencing.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"}
], "uin" : "229798"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083675", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083675/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office can only accept a complaint for investigation once it has (a) established that the complainant has exhausted the relevant business complaints process, and (b) reached agreement with the complainant regarding the scope of any investigation. The Office retain case specific information for 26 months following case closure, and as such the requested information is only available for 2017/18 and the current reporting year. The available information is provided in the table below.<\/p> <\/p> Year<\/p><\/td> Mean \u2013 Time taken to inform complainants whether their complaint could be accepted for investigation, in those cases that exceeded the four week internal target<\/p><\/td> Median \u2013 Time taken to inform complainants whether their complaint could be accepted for investigation, in those cases that exceeded the four week internal target<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18 (April to March)<\/p><\/td> 11 weeks<\/p><\/td> 8 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19 (Year to date \u2013 April to February)<\/p><\/td> 15 weeks<\/p><\/td> 11 weeks<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-12T15:44:46.903Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Independent Case Examiner"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 217031 on Independent Case Examiner, what the (a) mean and (b) median waiting time is for complainants who are not informed within four weeks of whether their complaint has been accepted for investigation in each of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"}
], "uin" : "229799"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083677", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083677/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.<\/p> <\/p> While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Temporary closures across the UK is an operational matter for the Post Office. I have therefore asked the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-12T17:55:01.863Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Offices: Closures"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many post offices are temporarily closed in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, and (d) Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"}
], "uin" : "229801"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083678", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083678/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.<\/p> <\/p> While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Temporary closures by branch types across the UK is an operational matter for the Post Office. I have therefore asked the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-12T17:55:51.41Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Offices: Closures"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) main, (b) local, (c) community, and (d) outreach post offices are temporarily closed in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales, and (iv) Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"}
], "uin" : "229802"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1081728", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1081728/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Marriage and civil partnerships are legal contracts that are associated with certain rights, including inheritance, recognition in the tax system and entitlement to certain benefits.<\/p> <\/p> A key principle of the National Insurance system is that all rights to benefits derived from another person\u2019s contributions, such as bereavement benefits, are based on the concept of legal marriage or civil partnership.<\/p> <\/p> Under Scottish law, in certain circumstances, a person can be classed as married by cohabitation with habit and repute. Marriage by habit and repute was abolished for new relationships in 2006 by the Family Law (Scotland) Act. Marriages deemed to have been constituted prior to the 4 May 2006 are still recognised as such for benefit purposes.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-07T10:38:56.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bereavement Support Payment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department does not pay bereavement support to widows and widowers where tacit consent to marriage with their former partner was not given but where the material circumstances of their relationship were the same as those of a married couple.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"}
], "uin" : "228066"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1077704", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1077704/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Auditors of health assessment reports on claimants of Personal Independence Payment are not independent of DWP; they are independent of the Assessment Providers.<\/p> <\/p> The DWP independent audit function, which was rolled out across the contracts in 2016, is used to judge how the providers are performing against set quality targets to ensure that the advice provided to the Department\u2019s decision makers is of suitable quality, fully explained and justified.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4071", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Newton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Truro and Falmouth"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Newton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-04T16:51:45.197Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to what extent auditors of health assessment reports on claimants of personal independence payment are independent from her Department.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"}
], "uin" : "226157"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1063923", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1063923/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "