§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost, to date, of providing corporate dress within the Benefits Agency(a) nationally and (b) in Wakefield.
§ Mr. BurtThe provision of corporate dress is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 19 November 1992:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the cost, nationally and in Wakefield, of providing corporate dress within the Benefits Agency.Corporate clothing, as part of the customer service initiative, enables local Benefits Agency staff to present a better and more professional image to their customers. This clothing is worn, voluntarily, by front-line staff such as receptionists, Social Fund officers and those members of staff running exhibitions and talks for outside bodies.The corporate dress contract was awarded on 11 December 1991. The national cost of corporate dress ordered to date is almost £1.4 million. I should explain that funding for this clothing comes from office running costs, and not out of the budgets allocated to benefits.The cost of corporate dress in the Agency's Wakefield District, which comprises offices at Wakefield, Castleford, Hemsworth, Pontefract and a full time caller office at Normanton, is approximately £12,100.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency "Have Your Say" leaflets were(a) published and (b) completed; and if information from analysis of completed leaflets is included in the national customer survey for 1992.
§ Mr. BurtThe provision of service to customers is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the 397W Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 19 November 1992:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many Benefits Agency "Have Your Say" leaflets were (a) published and (b) completed; and if information from analysis of completed leaflets is included in the National Customer Survey for 1992.The "Have Your Say" leaflet provides a simple and effective method for customers to set out grievances. There have been two editions of this leaflet. 450,000 of the first edition were printed. The revised version is larger in size and has an altered design. Since April 1992 15,000 have been printed.Information about the number of "Have Your Say" leaflets completed is not kept centrally and is therefore not available except at disproportionate cost. I should explain that the leaflet is designed to be used locally by customers and to enable Districts to respond to the points made and identify any local trends. As there is no national analysis, no statistics relating to it will be included in the National Customer Survey for 1992.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the production and distribution costs for the 1991–92 Benefits Agency annual report.
§ Mr. BurtThe 1991–92 Benefits Agency business plan is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 19 November 1992:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security concerning the Publication of the Benefits Agency's Annual Report for 1991–92.Ten thousand (10,000) copies of the Annual Report have been produced at a cost of £13,200. So far 3,500 copies have been distributed both within the Department of Social Security and to outside organisations. The cost of external distribution to date is £1,687. All the above costs are exclusive of VAT.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.