§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the letter of 12 May, ref. YM631037C, why the hon. Member for Walsall, North has not received a full reply from the Disability Benefits Directorate over the case of a constituent; and why the direct line 01253 337792 was unobtainable on 5 June. [2840]
§ Mr. DenhamOne of our key aims is to improve the service provided to claimants and other customers. Queries on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 10 June 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning a reply from the Disability Benefits Directorate over the case of a constituent and why the direct line 01253–337792 was unobtainable on 5 June.It may help if I explain that at as you copied me your letter of 8 May to the Director of Disability Benefits, I arranged for the issues raised to be investigated. The acknowledgement letter of 12 May from the Disability Benefit Director should have advised you that I would be responding by 9 June and not by 27 May. Unfortunately this was a mistake for which I apologise. My reply was issued on 9 June. The Benefits Agency Business Plan states that the Agency will reply to MPs within an absolute target of 20 Working days from the date of receipt of the correspondence.Due to a reorganisation of the Disability Benefits Unit Official Correspondence Section, one of the direct line numbers, 01253 337792, was disconnected earlier this year. Immediate action was taken to amend existing stocks of stationery. Unfortunately this did not happen in the acknowledgement sent to you and I offer you my sincere apologies. I can assure you that procedures are in place to prevent a reoccurrence.I have arranged for the list of current direct line numbers to be sent to you.I hope you find this reply helpful.