§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for increasing the amount of information and advice provided locally by his Department.
§ Mr. NewtonImproving the quality of service to the public has been set as one of the Department's key management priorities for 1982–83 and 1983–84. All the Department's local offices have been encouraged to experiment with different ways of providing information and advice. Details of the successful initiatives taken in the first year will be disseminated to all offices by means of a handbook of good practice.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will request all information and advice centres to keep his Department informed about the level and nature of social security inquiries with which they deal.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department has already established close links at national and local level with information and advice agencies. Such links will normally include discussion about the level and nature of social security inquiries being dealt with and I do not therefore think that a separate, formal, approach is necessary.