§ Ms BuckTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the 14th annual report of the Chief Adjudication Officer; and if he will make a statement. [54885]
§ Angela EagleThe report is being published today. The Chief Adjudication Officer's findings record a continuing improvement in the majority of decisions made by both the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service.
It is encouraging to read about the numerous initiatives that have been introduced to tackle weaknesses and improve overall performance. The initiatives are already helping to improve decision making. This is particularly good news as we approach 1999 when the provisions of the Social Security Act 1998 come into force. These provisions will build on current improvements and ensure that the way decisions are made and appealed is straightforward for both customers and decision-makers alike. The changes are a further step in the transformation of the Social Security system into an Active Modern Service. The Act also introduces important changes to the monitoring of decisions. Responsibility for monitoring the standards of decision-making within the Agencies will transfer to the relevant Chief Executives.