§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date he anticipates the completion of the transfer of responsibility for the issuing of retirement pension books to central pensions from local Benefits Agency offices.
§ Miss WiddecombeRetirement pension books have always been issued centrally. The books were generally issued by the benefits directorate in Newcastle but with the implementation of the computerised system, responsibility will transfer to area computer centres. This transfer will be completed by 15 July 1991.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will issue new guidelines to the Benefits Agency to hold stocks of, and distribute, retirement pension books up until the completion of the transfer of responsibility for the payment of retirement pension to central pensions from the local Benefits Agency offices.
§ Miss WiddecombeLocal offices do not hold stocks of retirement pension order books. These were generally issued by the benefits directorate in Newcastle but, with the implementation of the computerised system, responsibility is being transferred to area computer centres. The computerisation programme is scheduled for completion by 15 July 1991, by which time the centres will issue all such order books.