§ 18. Mr. Stevensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the computerisation within his Department is progressing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LyellThe social security computerisation programme, which is the largest in Europe, is making good progress. The local office micro project is already in 85 per cent. of local offices and will be complete this summer. The terminal replacement and inquiry system giving immediate on-line access between unemployment benefit offices and the mainframe computers at Reading and Livingston is already in two thirds of unemployment offices and will be completed by October. The local office project is well underway.