§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study has been made in her Department of the use of equipment and administrative methods which will enable changes in the rate of national insurance benefits to be implemented more rapidly; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyAs was announced by the previous administration, an inquiry into the time needed for an uprating was carried out on their behalf by Sir Richard Meyjes, the conclusion reached being that, mainly because of the time needed to uprate supplementary benefits, the period which had been found necessary in recent years could not be substantially shortened. Nevertheless, at the risk of having to pay some beneficiaries in arrears, we are proposing to carry out the present uprating in 17 weeks. Further studies are now being made of the feasibility of using computer and other mechanical methods on supplementary benefit work, and alternative 97W methods of paying benefit are being studied; but it is likely to be some years before any further substantial reductions in the time taken can be achieved.