HC Deb 22 May 1989 vol 153 c432W
42. Mr. Evennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is acting on any of the recommendations made in "The Business of Service" report.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The Department is taking action on all the recommendations of "The Business of Service" report. When we published the report in June 1988 my right hon. Friend anounced to the House that we had not rejected any of the report's 54 recommendations, although some needed further work. A copy of the action plan giving details of our response to all the report's recommendations was placed in the Library in January this year. A full implementation report will be prepared by the autumn.

Substantial progress is being made on the recommendations which need further work and we are in the process of implementing the recommendations we have accepted. In particular, my hon. Friend will be aware that we have already announced plans for relocation of some work from some London social security offices. My right hon. Friend also announced on 17 May the publication of a national definition of service, the setting of new performance targets and plans to turn social security operations work into "Next Steps" agencies.