§ Mr. SproatTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the objectives of each division and branch of his Department.
§ Mr. ScottAll parts of the Department, including its executive agencies and the divisions and branches of its central headquarters, share the purpose and aims set out in the department report "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–95", Cm 1914.
The Department's purpose is to serve Ministers in the development and implementation of social security policy, pay social security benefits, arrange for the collection of national insurance contributions and carry out other services in accordance with the law.
The underlying aims are to:
provide a good service to customers, one which is professional, efficient, responsive and fair;support ministers in the development and implementation of policy, and in the preparations and passage of legislation;manage the Department and its agencies efficiently, providing good value for money and maintaining the highest standards of propriety in the conduct of public affairs;provide relevant information about social security to individuals, groups and the community at large in a clear and comprehensible form;ensure correct payments are made—that benefit recipients are paid their correct entitlement and the scope for fraud and abuse is minimised;ensure compliance with the law relating to national insurance contributions by employers, employed earners and the self-employed;meet the needs of all staff as regards training and career and personal development, recognising and properly rewarding them for their contribution, and encouraging them to play a full part in the Department's work.In addition, the objectives of the individual executive agencies are laid out in their business plans for 1992–93, copies of which are in the Library.