HC Deb 05 December 1996 vol 286 cc766-70W
Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the consultees sent copies of the Benefits Agency document, "Benefits Agency Wales: Blueprint for the Future"; [5947]

(2) if he will extend the consultation period with regard to the document, "Benefits Agency Wales: Blueprint for the Future". [5946]

Mr. Roger Evans

This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hanson, dated 4 December 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking if he will list the consultees sent copies of the Benefits Agency document, BA Wales Blueprint for the future; and if he will extend the consultation period with regard to the document BA Wales blueprint for the future. All staff and trade union representatives in Wales received a copy of the document BA Wales, Blueprint for the future. All other consulted, as at 21 November 1996, are listed in the attached annex. The formal consultation period was due to end on 31 December 1996, however it has been extended to 28 February 1997. I hope you find this reply helpful. Annex: Recipients of the BA Wales blueprint as at 21 November 1996 Members of Parliament

  • Right hon. John Morris QC MP
  • Llew Smith MP
  • Win Griffiths MP
  • Ron Davies MP
    • 767
  • Gwilym Jones MP
  • Rhodri Morgan MP
  • Cynog Dafis MP
  • Martyn Jones MP
  • Barry Jones MP
  • Jonathan Evans MP
  • Dafydd Wigley MP
  • Jon Owen Jones MP
  • Alun Michael MP
  • Dr. Alan Williams MP
  • Rod Richards MP
  • Right hon. Sir Wyn Roberts MP
  • Ann Clwyd MP
  • Gareth Wardell MP
  • Right hon. Denzil Davies MP
  • Ted Rowlands MP
  • Alex Carlile QC MP
  • Roy Hughes MP
  • Ray Powell MP
  • Dr. Kim Howells MP
  • David Hanson MP
  • Don Toughig MP
  • Elfyn Llwyd MP
  • Roger Evans MP
  • Peter Hain MP
  • Paul Flynn MP
  • Nick Ainger MP
  • Allan Rogers MP
  • Donald Anderson MP
  • Paul Murphy MP
  • Dr. John Marek MP
  • Right hon. Alan Williams MP
  • Walter Sweeny MP
  • Ieuan Wyn Jones MP
County/Local Council Officials Neil Pringle, Chief Executive, Powys County Council Vivian Sugar, Chief Executive, city and Country of Swansea David Foster, Chief Executive, Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council G. R. Thomas, Chief Executive, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council Dr. Clive Grace. Chief Executive, Torfaen County Borough Council D. Griffin, Wrexham County Borough Council K. R. Sawyers, Chief Executive, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Sandy Blair, Chief Executive, Newport County Borough Council Joyce Redfeam, Chief Executive, Monmouth County Council Bryn Parry-Jones, Chief Executive, Pembrokeshire County Council Philys McGreevy, Chief Executive, Flintshire County Council R. Leadbeter, Chief Executive, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council K. Lewis, Chief Executive, Bridgend County Borough Council B. Davies, Chief Executive, City and County of Cardiff Council Owen Watkins, Chief Executive, Ceredigion County Council Huw Vaughan Thomas, Chief Executive, Denbeighshire County Council Geraint Jones, Chief Executive, Gwynedd Council Leon Gibson, Chief Executive, Isle of Anglesey County Council Malgwyn Davies, Chief Executive, Caerphilly County Borough Council R. Morgan, Chief Executive, Carmarthenshire County Council C. D. Barher, Chief Executive, Conwy County Borough Council R. V. Morris, Chief Executive, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Voluntary organisations Disability Wales Help the Aged National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders RELATE Standing Conference of Voluntary Organisations for people with learning and disability in Wales South Glamorgan Interval Wales Association of Voluntary Councils Wales Council for the Deaf Gingerbread Wales MENCAP in Wales Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied SCOPE—people with cerebral palsy Shelter Cymru South Glamorgan Race Equality Wales Council for the Blind Wales MIND Wales Pensioners National Association for Citizens Advice Bureau, North Wales Age Concern Cymru Welsh Women's Aid Somali Advice Centre NACAB, South Wales Welsh Refugee Council Wrexham Consumer Committee Urban and Rural Development, Welsh Office Swansea Welfare Rights CAB, Prestatyn CAIA Park Community Council, Wrexham Carmarthen District Access Group Llaneynion Community Council TUC Centre for Unemployed Cardiff Unemployed Worker's Centre KABLE Consultants Welfare Rights, Powys Group Council Ferret Information Systems Other Government departments CSA, Northampton Sheelagh Keyes, Director of Employment Service, Wales.

Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many telephone calls were received at each current Benefits Agency office in Wales for each of the last three years. [5948]

Mr. Evans

This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hanson, dated 4 December 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many telephone calls were received at each current Benefits Agency Office in Wales for each of the last three years. The information is not available in the format requested. Figures were not kept prior to 1995 but are available from January 1995 for BA Districts and from January 1996 for BA Offices. Such information as is available is shown in the attached table. I hope you find this reply helpful.

District 1995 January to December 1996 January to October
Cardiff and Vale 677,237 630,342
Cardiff Central 144,134
Cardiff East 200,536
Cardiff West 136,984
Barry 148,688
Mid Glamorgan 836,001 583,676
Porth —
Aberdare —
Bridgend 583,676
Pontypridd —
Tonypandy —
Eastern Valleys 457,397 376,156
Merthyr Tydfil 114,121
Blackwood 57,932
Caerphilly 80,182
Ebbw Vale 108,074
Bargoed 115,847
Swansea Bay 512,357 613,611
Swansea 613,611
Morriston —
Neath —
Port Talbot —
Gwent Borders 391,795 306,400
Newport 306,400
Cwmbran —
Gwyneddigion
Maldwyn 310,838 354,677
Caernarfon 51,260
Aberystwyth 44,553
Llangefni 111,518
Newtown 70,467
Porthmadog 44,489
Dolgellau 7,368
Holyhead 25,022
Wrexham and North West Coast 560,279 462,319
Wrexham 160,224
Colwyn Bay 92,392
Deeside 82,406
Rhyl 127,29
West Wales 369,110 308,261
Llanelli 86,051
Ammanford 47,052
Carmarthen 45,561
Haverfordwest 79,032
Pembroke Dock 50,565
Total 4,115,014 3,635,442
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
1 January to February only. Bargoed became a public caller office in March 1996, therefore figures are only available for January and February.

From 1 April 1996, Mid Glamorgan and Eastern Valleys merged to form South Wales Valleys District and Swansea Bay and West Wales merged to form South West Wales District.