§ 43. Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of recent improvements in the speed of service provided by his Department; and to what he attributes such improvements.
§ 75. Mr. Richard ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of recent improvements in the speed of service provided by his Department; and to what he attributes such improvements.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardSince the Government reforms were introduced in 1988, the social security system has become simpler for claimants to understand and easier for staff to operate. As a result there have been very real all-round improvements in standards of service to the public. In 1989–90 the average time taken to clear income support claims and the average time income support callers spend in our offices have both improved by 24 per cent. compared with average processing and waiting times before the reforms.