§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what contingency plans exist to ensure the payment of benefits during industrial action at Royal Mail sorting offices. [4581]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellThis is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Hutton, dated 7 December 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what contingency plans exist to ensure the payment of benefits during industrial action at Royal Mail sorting offices.The Benefits Agency (BA) has long standing instructions for staff covering disruption of postal delivery and collection services.The instructions cover the impact of postal disruption, the options for dealing with girocheques and order books issued by Area Computer Centres and North Fylde Central Office, liaison within the BA and between the BA and the Post Office, and the arrangements for local BA offices to deal with the increase in callers and telephone queries. The instructions also cover local disputes and436Wthe arrangements for customers to either collect payment from their local BA office, or where they are unable to attend the office, for payment to be delivered by local office staff.I hope you find this reply helpful.