HC Deb 28 November 1996 vol 286 cc395-6W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will instruct the Benefits Agency not to pursue the proposals recently published for the restructuring of the agency's offices in Wales until after the next general election. [5331]

Mr. Roger Evans

The proposals for restructuring Benefits Agency operations in Wales are subject to full public consultation. No decision on implementation will be taken until after the consultation period has ended on 28 February 1997.

Mr. Donald Anderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent in modernising the(a) Morriston, (b) Port Talbot, (c) Pembroke Dock, (d) Carmarthen, (e) Holyhead, (f) Llangefri, (g) Caernarfon (h) Rhyl, (i) Deeside, (j) Dolgellau, (k) Cwmbran, (l) Tonypandy, (m) Porth, (n) Caerphilly and (o) Barry Benefits Agency offices (i) in total and (ii) per office since the inception of the Benefits Agency. [5113]

Mr. Evans

This is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Donald Anderson, dated 27 November 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much has been spent in modernising the (a) Morriston, (b) Port Talbot, (c) Pembroke Dock, (d) Carmarthen, (e) Holyhead, (f) Llangefri, (g) Caernarfon, (h) Rhyl, (i) Deeside, (j) Dolgellau, (k) Cwmbran, (l) Tonypandy, (m) Porth, (n) Caerphilly and (o) Barry benefit agency offices (i) in total and (ii) per office. The total amount spent, in the last four financial years, on modernising the following buildings is £5,495,872, excluding general maintenance. This is broken down as follows:

£
(a) Morriston 543,630
(b) Port Talbot 495,427
(c) Pembroke Dock 80,577
(d) Carmarthen 252,184
(e) Holyhead 81,525
(f) Llangefri 465,517
(g) Caernarfon 175,402
(h) Rhyl 385,246
(i) Deeside 0
(j) Dollgellau 0
(k) Cwmbran 903,239
(l) Tonypandy 489,094
(m) Porth 561,179
(n) Caerphilly 892,483
(o) Barry 170,369

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

These amounts exclude general maintenance.

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