§ 22. Sir Anthony MeyerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has of improvements in the speed of service offered by social security offices as a result of the computerisation of the benefit system.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Department's strategy for the computerisation of the social security payment system will72W be completed on time in July 1991. One of the aims of the strategy is to reduce the time taken to process benefit claims.
The latest available information indicates that the national clearance time for new and repeat claims for income support stands at around 4.7 days, compared with 6.2 days relating to the period immediately prior to computerisation. The clearance time for claims to retirement pension averages 22.7 days compared with 28.2 days before computerisation.
General benefit inquiries are also being dealt with more efficiently, as local office staff are now able to quickly access an individual's details, via the computer terminal, rather than having to search for the appropriate clerical record.