Contributions Agency (Hansard, 27 January 1997)

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what factors underlay the decision of the Contributions Agency to set up a separate national inquiry centre to handle customer inquiries; [11901]
(2) if he will make a statement on the decision of the Contributions Agency to set up a separate national inquiry centre; [11902]
(3) what assessment he has made of the private finance initiative's ability to fund the buildings and equipment needed by the Contributions Agency's new national inquiry centre; [11903]
103W
(4) if the work of the new national inquiry centre being set up by the Contributions Agency will be conducted by civil servants; [11904]
(5) what is the estimated public cost to the Contributions Agency for setting up the national inquiry centre to handle complaints. [11905]

§ Mr. Heald
The Contributions Agency is currently undertaking a study examining the feasibility of a national enquiry centre. This study is looking at a number of options.
As yet no decision has been made.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans the Contributions Agency management board has put to him to privatise the network of field officers and inspectors. [11906]

§ Mr. Heald
As part of the competition strategy within the departmental change programme, the Contributions Agency is seeking to establish the most efficient and cost effective means of delivering its business. Work continues within the agency to identify which parts of the agency's work undertaken by its field operations should be submitted to competition. No decisions have been taken by the Contributions Agency management board in respect of field operations.

§ Mr. Rooney
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what targets the Contributions Agency has been set for each of the next three years for revenue collection; and how these differ from previous targets. [13033]

§ Mr. Heald
The Secretary of State's targets are agreed annually. Targets for 1997–98, including the Contributions Agency's revenue collection target, are currently being negotiated. The Contributions Agency will publish targets in its business plan in March, a copy of which will be available in the Library.