My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, has made the following written ministerial statement:"On 1 April 2006, I will launch the Tribunals Service. The new agency brings together the tribunals already administered by DCA with five others from across central Government. It is the culmination of a major programme of work that has involved extensive engagement with tribunals, other Government Departments and stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition and minimal disruption to users. The formation of the agency is the first major shake-up of the UK tribunals system for over fifty years and will ensure the manifest independence of the tribunals from those whose decisions they are reviewing.The Tribunals Service will work to make the whole system of administrative justice more efficient, effective and accessible for users. Over time, it will test a range of methods of dispute resolution to create a service that ensures the public can get their problems addressed by the most suitable means.The following table sets out the key performance targets which I have set for the Tribunals Service for 2006–07: Tribunal Key Performance Indicators Target Employment Tribunals Service The percentage of single Employment Tribunal cases where the hearing begins within 26 weeks of receipt 75% The minimum percentage of above target to be achieved by individual regional offices 65% The average time taken to issue the decision of the employment tribunal to the applicant following the tribunal hearing. 4 weeks Employment Appeals Tribunal The percentage of Appeals listed for a first hearing within 26 weeks of receipt 75% Appeals Service The average time from the receipt of an appeal from the original decision-making agency to the first tribunal hearing 11 weeks The average time for a rehearing of a case returned from the Social Security Commissioner following an appeal against the original tribunal 8 weeks Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (shared with Home Office) The percentage of substantive asylum applications including the final appeal that is decided within 6 months 75% Criminal Injuries and Compensation Appeals Panel (CICAP) The percentage of cases where a decision on eligibility for compensation is issued from receipt of the ready-to-list bundle provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) 75% in6 months95% in12 months The Percentage of both eligibility and quantum (value) cases that are to be resolved within:6 months12 months2 years 65%90%98% Number of appeals resolved per hearing day 6 Mental Health Review Tribunal The average time taken from the date of receipt of the application to the date when the notification of the written decision is received by the applicant for:Section 2 (Mental Health Act 1983) casesSection 3 (Mental Health Act 1983) casesRestricted cases 7 days5 weeks14 weeks Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal The average time taken from the date of receipt of the application to the date when the notification of the written decision is received by the applicant 4.3 months The percentage of:Cases registered,Case statements processed,Decisions issued, within 10 working days 96%96%80% Copies of the Tribunals Service framework document and the Business Plan for 2006–07 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses."

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