HC Deb 07 July 1981 vol 8 cc253-4
9. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that maximum privacy is provided at Department of Health and Social Security offices for all people making requests for payments.

Mrs. Chalker

It has long been the policy of the Department that all local officers should be equipped with private cubicles or interview rooms. Standing instructions to local office staff stress that full use should be made of those facilities for callers who wish to discuss matters of a private nature, and appropriate notices are displayed.

Mr. Skinner

That is what it is like in theory, but in practice it does not work like that. Is the Minister aware that in my constituency I have had complaints at my general management committee from persons complaining about the attitude of the Government, who are inflicting cuts in social services that are resulting in people being herded around like cattle in some of the DHSS offices when they apply for supplementary benefits? All that was happening long before the civil servants were on strike. What makes it worse is that recently a pilot scheme was introduced to push the disabled people into the same cubicles as the rest—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question, like anyone else.

Mrs. Chalker

I understand that the arrangements at Chesterfield local office, which serves the hon. Gentleman's constituency, comply in all respects with our general policy in the provision of privacy. I am also informed that all our offices have been told that they should give access to privacy to those who call for it. I should like the hon. Gentleman to give me the details of the complaints that he has cited. I give him a firm assurance that I shall look into each and every one. If what he says is justified, I shall make sure that action is taken to prevent such things happening again.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Is my hon. Friend aware that those Members of Parliament who take the trouble to go to the DHSS offices, or even employment and jobcentres, are accorded privacy and courtesy by the officials in those departments in an exemplary fashion, and that the criticism that has been levelled by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) is completely irrelevant and not at all accurate?

Mrs. Chalker

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for confirming that the Department's standard policy of providing, where practicable, privacy screens and private interview rooms is carried out throughout the country.