§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the current status of the document, "Benefits Agency (Wales), Blueprint for the Future." [10939]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Government have new priorities for improving the delivery of social security, and we shall not be proceeding with the separate Welsh strategy set out in the blueprint for Wales.
We are determined to overhaul the service that we have inherited, to develop a modern integrated system that is simpler, streamlined and more efficient, and that strikes the right balance between people's rights and responsibilities.
We shall be looking at service provision to ensure that an equitable service is provided for all. This may be best achieved through a flexible approach, involving partnerships with other service providers, perhaps using other facilities on a casual basis or by using officers to visit customers in their homes or elsewhere. This is part of the Government's approach to getting public service agencies to work more effectively together. Concentrating staff in this way can improve the accuracy of work and can also bring efficiency gains. We are, however, clear that our strategy will continue to require a network of offices in which staff can speak to an advisor, as well as locations where customers can get access to information through direct-access kiosks.
747WThe Government have promised to live within the budget set by the previous Administration and I have told staff to look for ways of improving efficiency and improving customer service.