§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what progress has been made in recent years in the use of modern office machinery and computers in her 17W Department; and what steps she intends to take to expedite the process.
§ Miss HerbisonSince 1959 two computers have been installed in my Department; one for pay and statistical work, the other for recording graduated contributions. Negotiations with manufacturers for the provision of a third, to be installed as a prototype for the payment of short-term benefits, have reached an advanced stage.
Early this year studies to consider the feasibility of using computers for the administration of retirement and widows' pensions began and more recently a similar study began in relation to family allowances work. It is my intention to give high priority to the study of how automatic data processing techniques could he applied to the present order book system with a view to getting increases, of retirement pensions out more quickly after a change in rates.
In addition to computers my Department makes extensive use of modern office machines and is in constant touch with new developments.