§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the authority for the expenditure of approximately £400,000 before April 1990 under the "service in the 90s" initiative; when the decision was made; how the money will be allocated between the offices; what is the purpose of the expenditure; who will oversee the expenditure and to whom they are accountable; whether any new expenditure is involved; and to which section of his Department's budget the cost will be charged.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe eight local offices involved in the "service in the 90s" initiative were allocated provision of up to £50,000 each, to be spent by the end of the 1989–90 financial year, to meet costs incurred in experimenting with improvements to current working practices. This decision was taken in December 1989. The expenditure will be met from within the Department's resources, and normal financial control procedures will apply.