§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the provision of Benefits Agency services in New Milton. [62318]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Desmond Swayne, dated 14 December 1998:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will review the provision of Benefits Agency services in New Milton.There are no plans at present to review the services provided by the Benefits Agency (BA) to the residents of New Milton. However the Agency is always seeking to ensure its services in line with the modern delivery of services expected by Ministers to support their Welfare Reform Programme, the District Manager for Solent and Forest, John Cullen, based in Southampton would be pleased to receive your suggestions on the service we currently offer our customers in New Milton.Whilst there is no specific BA outlet at New Milton there is a Public Caller Office at Lymington which is co-located with the Employment Service Jobcentre (ESJ) and which offers a full BA enquiry service. The main BA processing site for the area in which New Milton is situated is at Totton. There are also ESJs situated at Hythe and Ringwood.I hope you find this reply helpful.