§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what pilot schemes for remote single site storage of line benefits case papers are being undertaken by the Benefits Agency; and where they are taking place.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of storage facilities is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 18 March 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking what pilot schemes for remote single site storage of line benefits case papers are being undertaken by the Benefits Agency, and where they are taking place.It is incumbent upon Benefits Agency District Managers to provide an efficient service to customers in the communities which they serve. As well as the implementation and ongoing operation of legislative provisions, they need also to take account of available resources and operational needs in the course of their management tasks. Some, therefore, as one of a number of measures designed to improve efficiency which will be of ultimate benefit to customers, have chosen to store benefit files at a location outwith the district. There are no specific pilot schemes.As Districts are free to organise to best suit their area, it is not necessary for a record of how they choose to organise their filing systems to be kept centrally. However, I am aware of some Districts, and locations where benefits are centrally administered benefits who have chosen to store files remotely. A list of these are appended.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also appear in the Library.District
- Wearside
- Newcastle
- Doncaster
- Hull
- Rother and Dearne
- South Humberside
- Bradford
- Leeds Ridings
- Central Staffordshire
- Wolverhampton
- Liverpool North
- Wirral
- South Cheshire
- North Cheshire
- Blackburn and Accrington
- Preston
- Glasgow South West
- Glasgow East
- Coventry
- South Tees
- Barnsley
- East Yorkshire
- Sheffield East
- Sheffield West
- Wakefield District
- Kirklees District
- Central Derbyshire
- Walsall
- South Cheshire
- Liverpool South
- Sefton
- South West Lancashire
- Oldham
- North Cumbria
- Wigan and Leigh
- Glasgow West
426 - Clyde Valley
Centrally administered benefits
- Family Credit
- Disability Working Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- War Pensions
- Invalid Care Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- (Residual) Mobility Allowance