Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average length of appeal is, from start to resolution, for those appealing against Veterans UK decisions on applications for (a) AFCS and (b) War Pensions.

It should be noted that appeals are a three-stage process in which Veterans UK are solely responsible for Stage One and Stage Three. There is no Key Performance Indicator for Stage Three. Information on Stage Two should be requested from HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).

Key Performance Indicators are set for Stage One of the process and data is held regarding achievement as follows:

War Pension Scheme appeals Key Performance Indicator Average Clearance Time is set at 122 days, current achievement as at end April 2022 is 117.32.

AFCS appeals Key Performance Indicator Average Clearance Time is set at 150 days, current achievement as at end April 2022 is 123.9 days.

Work is ongoing towards an end to end Key Performance Indicator for Veterans UK and MOJ (HMCTS). This is in parallel with work being undertaken with HMCTS England and Wales to adopt a process of Direct Lodgement. This should provide customers with a better overall experience. A date for the implementation of Direct Lodgement for England and Wales has not yet been confirmed.