§ Mr. Lewis Stevensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will make available the first report of the Chief Adjudication Officer on the standards of social security adjudication; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe report is being published today. Its publication follows from the provisions of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act, 1983, which sought to improve the quality of social security adjudication by various measures, including the requirement for the Chief Adjudication Officer to report290W annually on standards. We are grateful to the Chief Adjudication Officer for the efforts which he and his staff have put into it.
The report acknowledges that the period it covers was one of added difficulties for the social security system, stemming from the disputes in the coal mining industry and at the Department's computer centre at Newcastle. It makes a number of constructive suggestions which we shall consider carefully.
In the Government's view, many of the problems to which the report draws attention reflect the wider difficulties of a social security system which is often complex and confusing for both claimants and staff. We believe that our proposals for reform and simplification will make an important contribution to the continued improvement of adjudication standards which is our aim.