§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the target savings in the year 1993–94 to be achieved by the extension of automatic credit transfer to(a) child benefit and (b) pensions; and whether those targets were achieved.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of child benefit and pensions is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 27 April 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about savings targeted and achieved from the extension of Automated Credit Transfer (ACT) to child benefit and pensions.Individual benefits were not set targets for the savings to be achieved by the extension of ACT. However, targets were set in terms of the percentage increase in ACT take-up to be achieved by 1995–96 and these are (a) 3 per cent. for Child Benefit and (b) 2 per cent. for Pensions.In the period from 31 March 1993 to 1 March 1994 the level of ACT take-up increased by (a) 1.3 per cent. for Child Benefit, from 22.4 per cent. to 23.7 per cent., and (b) by 2 per cent. for Pensions, from 27 per cent. to 29 per cent. I should add that the figures for Pensions exclude overseas cases and those where Retirement Pension has been combined with Income Support for payment purposes.I hope you find this reply helpful.