Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at what proportion of personal independence payment appeals his Department is represented by barristers.

It is not common practice for the Department to be represented by barristers at the First-tier Tribunal. The Secretary of State’s representative would normally be a Presenting Officer. A number of the current Presenting Officer team may hold qualifications or work experience in the legal profession; however, this is not a requirement for the job role.