§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to implement the objective in the Green Paper on Welfare Reform that the social security system should be flexible, efficient and easy to use. [42270]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe are committed to transforming the Social Security system into an Active Modern Service which provides better, simpler and more efficient service for our customers. I am pleased to announce since 27 April the Benefits Agency Chiltern South Directorate in partnership with Camden Local Authority have started to test integrated service delivery by providing a single point of contact to lone parents who are claiming Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and who make applications for child support. In addition, the Benefits Agency and the London Borough of Lewisham are developing a project which will test better exchange of information and improved advice and service to customers. We want to know what customers and staff think about this new way of delivering services and we will be listening carefully to what they tell us.