§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action is being taken in respect of the criticisms of the Department of Health and Social Security made in the reports Business of Service and Out of Town.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)The DHSS was aware of the variable service provided by local offices, which is why the reportThe Business of Service was commissioned as an efficiency scrutiny. Out of Town is the report of an internal study team but will be progressed on scrutiny lines. The scrutiny timetable requires an action plan summarising the decisions and actions needed to produce results within three months of the report's 386WA presentation to Ministers. The action plans will be available by the end of August.