HC Deb 22 March 1996 vol 274 cc352-3W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the locations of the feasibility study and trial periods as part of the 1995 review of the Contributions Agency; and if he will make a statement. [21572]

Mr. Heald

The 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 Mrs. Ray Mitchie, dated 21 March 1996: As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency. I have been asked to reply to your question regarding the locations used for the feasibility study and trial periods as part of the 1995 review of the Contributions Agency. The Business Unit Implementation Feasibility Study examined existing statistical data from all Field Operations locations and conducted research into specific work and organisation by statistically sampling locations across the entire Field network. Representatives from all five Sectors participated in the development of the proposed reorganisation. The recommendations from the feasibility study were piloted in Kent and Severn Estuary Divisions from 19 June 1995, with the inclusion of Manchester Division from 24 July 1995. The locations chosen represented a mixture of rural and inner city offices. Initial evaluation of the pilots was conducted on 31 October 1995, with ongoing evaluation thereafter until 31 March 1996.

The locations involved in the pilots were:

  • Kent
  • Dartford
  • Chatham
  • Maidstone
  • Gravesend
  • Dover
  • Ashford
  • Sittingbourne
  • Tunbridge Wells
  • Ramsgate
  • Canterbury
  • Orpington
  • Severn Estuary
  • Cardiff
  • Bristol
  • Bridgend
  • Weston Super Mare
  • Manchester
  • Farnworth
  • Manchester
  • Rochdale
  • Bury

I hope you will find the information provided helpful.

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