§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public. [48976]
§ Mr. FieldThe Department and its Agencies aim to reply to all correspondence from members of the public within 20 days. Although performance is monitored, the information is not available in the format requested. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 14 July 1998,Official Report, column 159.
§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans her Department has to correspond electronically with(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [49895]
§ Mr. Field[holding answer Monday 13 July 1998]This Department provides a wide range of information through a variety of means, including electronic. We have a website on the Internet which contains Social Security information such as benefits and Green Papers and an E-mail box for Ministerial correspondence.
We are actively looking at ways members of the public can deal electronically with the Department, with respect to benefit claims.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 17 July 1998, Official Report, column 315.