§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what subjects the Social Security Policy Inspectorate has undertaken inquiries but not yet finalised its reports; and on what date each of these inquiries commenced.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of Wednesday 21 November, Official Report, columns 203–43, which Government Departments have provided information and evidence to the social security reviews; from which Departments officials have attended meetings of the review teams; and which Government Departments have been afforded the right to be present at meetings of the inquiry teams into housing benefit, supplementary benefit and benefits for children and young persons.
§ Mr. NewtonInformation relating to other Departments is fed into the social security reviews in a variety of ways: in some cases it is already held in the Department; in others it is supplied by other Departments to the review team secretariats for incorporation in papers; and in some cases review teams have requested papers on specific subjects. Other Departments have also been kept in touch, through normal official machinery, with the progress of the reviews. Officials from other Government Departments, including those listed as follows, attend review team meetings at the discretion of the chairman of the review teams:
- Department of Employment
- Department of Environment
- Government Actuary's Department
- Inland Revenue
- Department of Health and Social Services — Northern Ireland
- Department of Trade and Industry
- Treasury