§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed restructuring of the Contributions Agency on levels of service to customers and expected response times to inquiries and complaints; what savings he expects the restructuring to achieve; and what will be the effect on jobs in Wales within the Contributions Agency. [17829]
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§ Mr. HealdThe administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 February 1996:
As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about the operational matters relating to the Agency.I have been asked to reply to your enquiry regarding the assessment of the proposed restructuring of the Contributions Agency and the affect on jobs in Wales within the Agency.The proposed reorganisation of the Contributions Agency Field Operations has been the subject of a feasibility study and an extensive trial period in both rural and urban areas. Information from customer satisfaction surveys has also been taken into account to inform on the development, to ensure that the Agency continues to maintain the commitment to serve delivery outlined in its Contributor and Employer Charters.Precise details of savings cannot be determined during the planning and development stage of the reorganisation. However it is estimated that there will be significant savings in management costs. Savings in accommodation and related costs will be captured as the reorganisation is implemented.In line with the Governments White Paper "Continuity and Change in the Civil Service" the emphasis is to achieve increased efficiency with reduced costs. The new organisation will inevitably operate with a reduced resource allocation. In Wales that will result in a reduction in staffing levels of 14%.I hope you will find the reply helpful, if you require anything further please let me know.