asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time taken to dispose of appeals from decisions of National Health Service Executive Councils; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the delay.

About three and one-half months in cases decided without a hearing and about nine months where there is a hearing. I am reminding all concerned in the handling of appeals of the need to ensure that there is no avoidable delay.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Will he look at the time taken between notice of appeal being given and the actual date of the hearing? Is he aware that on the last two occasions in Galloway the period was five months and four months from the time of the appeal notice to the case being heard?

Yes, I will certainly do that. I am doing everything I can to speed up these cases.