§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had about co-locating facilities for claimants and the unemployed.
§ Mr. BurtOfficials from the Departments of Social Security and of Employment have examined ways of improving the interaction of employment service and Benefits Agency functions in order to improve the service provided to unemployed people. Recommendations which have been taken forward include better liaison between offices in the same area and moves towards standard opening hours. In addition, a number of measures are being piloted; for example, family credit advice and calculations for newly unemployed people, and locating BA staff in ES offices to give immediate advice about income support claims. The results of the latter pilot are now being evaluated.