§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 18 November,Official Report, column 84, and the Benefit Agency's subsequent letter, if he will ask the district managers to provide information on the number, and the periods in which, benefit offices were closed to the public during official opening hours in the current year, giving the reasons for each closure.
§ Miss WiddecombeProvision of local services is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. I understand from him that district managers are encouraged to tailor their services to the needs of the local community.
The range of public caller facilities now offered by the Benefits Agency is too diverse to allow meaningful comparisons between offices or to justify collection of detailed information centrally. Information about the withdrawal of these facilities could be obtained from district managers only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Bichard will write to the hon. Member, and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.