§ Mrs. Virgina BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans to consider the status of the administration of social security benefits in the light of the report, "Improving Management in Government: The Next Steps."
§ Mr. MooreI have asked my officials to examine the organisation of the whole of social security operations including computer services and to recommend whether they can with advantage be run as a "Next Steps" agency or agencies.
The "Next Steps" initiative presents important new opportunities to all Government Departments, but particularly for the DHSS. Administration of the social security scheme employs nearly 90,000 people (nearly 90 per cent. of DHSS staff) who work in a network of central, regional and local DHSS offices across the country, authorising, calculating and paying benefits and collecting national insurance contributions. The study I have commissioned will consider how this huge "business" could produce a better service to the public and improved value to the taxpayer by being changed into an executive agency, or agencies, along the lines recommended in the "Next Steps" report.
In the light of the recommendations of officials the Government will be in a position to reach conclusions on the most appropriate way to run social security operations and, if appropriate, the shape and form of an agency or agencies.