§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Wakefield will receive a reply to his correspondence of 8 May 1998, on behalf of his constituent Mr. Wright, from(a) the Disability Living Allowance Unit and (b) the Benefit Agency Medical Service. [55032]
§ Mr. TimmsThe administration of the Disability Living Allowance Unit and the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 19 October 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when you will receive a reply to your correspondence of 8 May, concerning your constituent Mr. Wright, from (a) the Disability Living Allowance Unit (DLA) and (b) the Benefits Agency Medical Service (BAMS).The Benefits Agency Customer Charter sets out targets for response to complaints. They are an acknowledgement within two working days and a full response within seven working days (twenty working days for BAMS). I am sorry, on this occasion, you have failed to receive the standard of service which you are entitled to expect.972WRepiles to your letter were issued from the BAMS on 7 August 1998 and from the DLA Unit on 11 August 1998.