HC Deb 24 November 1997 vol 301 cc406-7W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Prime Minister (1) which Minister is responsible for co-ordinating the work and outputs of(a) the Treasury's departmental spending reviews of current public expenditure and tax and benefits, (b) the Department of Social Security's review of the future of the welfare state, (c) the benefit-by-benefit review, (d) the benefits integrity programme and (e) the review of pensions; [17035]

(2) what are the anticipated time scales for (a) the Department of Social Security's review of the future of the welfare state, (b) the DSS benefit by benefit review, (c) the benefits integrity programme and (d) the Treasury's review of tax and benefits; and how and when the findings of each review will be reported to the House. [17038]

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is Chairman of the ministerial committee on public expenditure which is overseeing the Comprehensive Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 11 June. It includes departmental and cross-departmental reviews and is expected to take about a year to complete.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is conducting a wide-ranging review of the Social Security system within the framework of the Comprehensive Spending Programme. As a first step in the review, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Security and the Minister for Welfare Reform expect to publish a Green Paper on the framework for welfare reform around the turn of the year.

The Benefit Integrity Project, checking the correctness of Disability Living Allowance payments by means of postal inquiries and visits, is due to be completed by 31 March 1999.

The review of tax and benefits, headed by Martin Taylor, Chief Executive of Barclays Bank, and involving officials from the Treasury, the Department of Social Security, the Department for Education and Employment and the Inland Revenue will inform my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer's, Spring Budget.

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