§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many complaints per client have been made about each Benefits Agency office in London in each year over the past five years; [46188]
(2) how many complaints have been made about each Benefits Agency office in London in each year over the past five years. [46187]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Andrew Love, dated 24 June 1998:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many complaints per client and how many complaints have been made about each Benefits Agency (BA) office in London in each year over the past five years.The information is not available in the format requested. The Benefits Agency defines complaints as any expression of dissatisfaction either written or spoken about the service provided that needs a response. Collation of complaints data was introduced in October 1997. Such information as is available is shown in the attached table.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Number of complaints received for the period 1 October 1997 to 31 March 1998 for those Benefits Agency (BA) districts with London offices BA districts Total number of complaints Barking and Havering 393 City 58 Newham 347 Hackney and Islington 240 Leaside 739 Lea Roding 335 Barnet 79 Ealing/Euston 1,154 Harrow 308 Neasden 444 Thames Valley 45 West Hertfordshire 52 Palace1 104 Parkside2 1,172 North West Kent 553 Riverside 1,990 Surrey 433 1For the period 1 October 1997 to 31 December 1997 2Includes data for Palace District from 1 January 1998 Note:
Data is provisional and subject to change