§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has for the privatisation of the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement. [41169]
§ Mr. LilleyThere are no proposals to privatise the Benefits Agency.
Involvement of the private sector in the Benefits Agency is part of a wider programme of change to reduce running costs and improve efficiency.
§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the estimated total annual saving to the Benefits Agency of the proposed closure of the advice offices in Morley, Rothwell and Otley on 31 December; [41167]
(2) what is his estimate of the numbers of people calling for information or advice at the Benefits Agency Office in Morley in each week of its operation; and how many of these he estimates will journey to Leeds for advice; [41159]
(3) what was the cost to his Department of setting up the benefits advice office in Morley; and what was the cost to the Benefits Agency of running the office in 1995–96. [41168]
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received concerning the change programme in the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement; [41271]
(2) what plans he has to meet the Civil and Public Services Association to discuss the change programme of the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement. [41272]
§ Mr. Roger EvansI will write to the lion. Members shortly.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the offices within his Department that have been closed in the(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough area for each of the last five years. [40856]
§ Mr. BurtIn the five years prior to August 1996, no offices were closed in the Doncaster and Mexborough area.
In August 1996 the Benefits Agency took occupation of a new building at Crossgate house, Wood street, Doncaster. While meeting the current future operational needs and the requirements of its customers, it enabled rationalisation of the overall DSS occupied estate in Doncaster. As a result four buildings occupied by, DSS in Doncaster were closed: St. Peters house, Castle house, Silver house medical examination centre and Arndale house medical adjudication centre.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is yet in a position to report on the tenders submitted to him for the Benefit Agency's1018W telephone interpreting service; and if he will make a statement. [40987]
§ Mr. EvansA framework agreement has been negotiated with Language Line Ltd. for the provision of a telephone interpretation service to the Benefits Agency and other interested Government Departments. Unsuccessful tenderers were informed by letter dated 14 October 1996. Debriefs for the unsuccessful tenderers are currently being arranged with the first debrief organised for 7 November 1996.
BA Purchasing and Supply, which let the contract on behalf of the Department of Social Security, is confident that the successful tender will provide an improved service in terms of quality of interpretation.