§ Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the consultees sent copies of the Benefits Agency document, "Benefits Agency Wales: Blueprint for the Future"; [5947]
(2) if he will extend the consultation period with regard to the document, "Benefits Agency Wales: Blueprint for the Future". [5946]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThis is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hanson, dated 4 December 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking if he will list the consultees sent copies of the Benefits Agency document, BA Wales Blueprint for the future; and if he will extend the consultation period with regard to the document BA Wales blueprint for the future.All staff and trade union representatives in Wales received a copy of the document BA Wales, Blueprint for the future. All other consulted, as at 21 November 1996, are listed in the attached annex.The formal consultation period was due to end on 31 December 1996, however it has been extended to 28 February 1997.I hope you find this reply helpful.Annex: Recipients of the BA Wales blueprint as at 21 November 1996Members of Parliament
- Right hon. John Morris QC MP
- Llew Smith MP
- Win Griffiths MP
- Ron Davies MP
767 - Gwilym Jones MP
- Rhodri Morgan MP
- Cynog Dafis MP
- Martyn Jones MP
- Barry Jones MP
- Jonathan Evans MP
- Dafydd Wigley MP
- Jon Owen Jones MP
- Alun Michael MP
- Dr. Alan Williams MP
- Rod Richards MP
- Right hon. Sir Wyn Roberts MP
- Ann Clwyd MP
- Gareth Wardell MP
- Right hon. Denzil Davies MP
- Ted Rowlands MP
- Alex Carlile QC MP
- Roy Hughes MP
- Ray Powell MP
- Dr. Kim Howells MP
- David Hanson MP
- Don Toughig MP
- Elfyn Llwyd MP
- Roger Evans MP
- Peter Hain MP
- Paul Flynn MP
- Nick Ainger MP
- Allan Rogers MP
- Donald Anderson MP
- Paul Murphy MP
- Dr. John Marek MP
- Right hon. Alan Williams MP
- Walter Sweeny MP
- Ieuan Wyn Jones MP
County/Local Council OfficialsNeil Pringle, Chief Executive, Powys County CouncilVivian Sugar, Chief Executive, city and Country of SwanseaDavid Foster, Chief Executive, Vale of Glamorgan County Borough CouncilG. R. Thomas, Chief Executive, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough CouncilDr. Clive Grace. Chief Executive, Torfaen County Borough CouncilD. Griffin, Wrexham County Borough CouncilK. R. Sawyers, Chief Executive, Neath Port Talbot County Borough CouncilSandy Blair, Chief Executive, Newport County Borough CouncilJoyce Redfeam, Chief Executive, Monmouth County CouncilBryn Parry-Jones, Chief Executive, Pembrokeshire County CouncilPhilys McGreevy, Chief Executive, Flintshire County CouncilR. Leadbeter, Chief Executive, Blaenau Gwent County Borough CouncilK. Lewis, Chief Executive, Bridgend County Borough CouncilB. Davies, Chief Executive, City and County of Cardiff CouncilOwen Watkins, Chief Executive, Ceredigion County CouncilHuw Vaughan Thomas, Chief Executive, Denbeighshire County CouncilGeraint Jones, Chief Executive, Gwynedd CouncilLeon Gibson, Chief Executive, Isle of Anglesey County Council768WMalgwyn Davies, Chief Executive, Caerphilly County Borough CouncilR. Morgan, Chief Executive, Carmarthenshire County CouncilC. D. Barher, Chief Executive, Conwy County Borough CouncilR. V. Morris, Chief Executive, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough CouncilVoluntary organisationsDisability WalesHelp the AgedNational Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of OffendersRELATEStanding Conference of Voluntary Organisations for people with learning and disability in WalesSouth Glamorgan IntervalWales Association of Voluntary CouncilsWales Council for the DeafGingerbread WalesMENCAP in WalesPhysically Handicapped and Able BodiedSCOPE—people with cerebral palsyShelter CymruSouth Glamorgan Race EqualityWales Council for the BlindWales MINDWales PensionersNational Association for Citizens Advice Bureau, North WalesAge Concern CymruWelsh Women's AidSomali Advice CentreNACAB, South WalesWelsh Refugee CouncilWrexham Consumer CommitteeUrban and Rural Development, Welsh OfficeSwansea Welfare RightsCAB, PrestatynCAIA Park Community Council, WrexhamCarmarthen District Access GroupLlaneynion Community CouncilTUC Centre for UnemployedCardiff Unemployed Worker's CentreKABLE ConsultantsWelfare Rights, Powys Group CouncilFerret Information SystemsOther Government departmentsCSA, NorthamptonSheelagh Keyes, Director of Employment Service, Wales.
§ Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many telephone calls were received at each current Benefits Agency office in Wales for each of the last three years. [5948]
§ Mr. EvansThis is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
769WLetter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hanson, dated 4 December 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many telephone calls were received at each current Benefits Agency Office in Wales for each of the last three years.The information is not available in the format requested. Figures were not kept prior to 1995 but are available from January 1995 for BA Districts and from January 1996 for BA Offices.Such information as is available is shown in the attached table.I hope you find this reply helpful.770W
District 1995 January to December 1996 January to October Cardiff and Vale 677,237 630,342 Cardiff Central 144,134 Cardiff East 200,536 Cardiff West 136,984 Barry 148,688 Mid Glamorgan 836,001 583,676 Porth — Aberdare — Bridgend 583,676 Pontypridd — Tonypandy — Eastern Valleys 457,397 376,156 Merthyr Tydfil 114,121 Blackwood 57,932 Caerphilly 80,182 Ebbw Vale 108,074 Bargoed 115,847 Swansea Bay 512,357 613,611 Swansea 613,611 Morriston — Neath — Port Talbot — Gwent Borders 391,795 306,400 Newport 306,400 Cwmbran — Gwyneddigion Maldwyn 310,838 354,677 Caernarfon 51,260 Aberystwyth 44,553 Llangefni 111,518 Newtown 70,467 Porthmadog 44,489 Dolgellau 7,368 Holyhead 25,022 Wrexham and North West Coast 560,279 462,319 Wrexham 160,224 Colwyn Bay 92,392 Deeside 82,406 Rhyl 127,29 West Wales 369,110 308,261 Llanelli 86,051 Ammanford 47,052 Carmarthen 45,561 Haverfordwest 79,032 Pembroke Dock 50,565 Total 4,115,014 3,635,442 Figures are provisional and subject to change. 1 January to February only. Bargoed became a public caller office in March 1996, therefore figures are only available for January and February. From 1 April 1996, Mid Glamorgan and Eastern Valleys merged to form South Wales Valleys District and Swansea Bay and West Wales merged to form South West Wales District.