§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total amount spent on welfare benefit advice in Wales in each of the past 10 years; and if he will estimate the amount of additional benefit claimed as a result of this expenditure in each of the past 10 years. [64658]
§ Angela EagleThis is an operational matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 11 January 1999:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will estimate the total amount spent on welfare benefit advice in Wales in each of the past 10 years; and if he will estimate the amount of additional benefit claimed as a result of this expenditure in each of the past 10 years.One of the most important role of Benefits Agency (BA) staff is to provide advice and information on benefit matters to our customers. This is part of the normal every day service delivery process. Advice and information is provided on a daily basis by any member of staff who works in the benefit related field of operations. We do not, therefore, separate out the cost of providing this service, regarding it as an integral part of the overall approach we take to customer service.As the BA does not maintain discrete information on the provision of benefit advice and information, it is not possible to estimate an amount of additional benefit claimed as a result of this service.I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful in this instance.