§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations took place in respect of the recommendations to close eight regional rate collection agencies and to centralise housing benefit in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Rate Collection Agency under its chief executive, Mr. D. W. Gallagher. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. W. Gallagher to Mr. Eddie McCrady, dated 6 December 1994:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Question about consultations in respect of the recommendations to close 8 local Rate Collection offices and to centralise Housing Benefit in Belfast.The recommendations were drawn up after widespread consultation within the management tiers of the RCA. The fact that they became public knowledge very quickly after they had been made known more widely to Agency staff precluded any outside consultation. Since the news became public, there have been representations from Members of Parliament, District Council Officers, and members of the public.