§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reduction in the pieces of advice on Income Support claims has been made in the new code of practice. [79220]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of Income Support is the responsibility of Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my right hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 29 March 1999:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what reduction in the pieces of advice on Income Support claims has been made in the new code of practice.Since the mid-nineties procedural guidance for staff dealing with Income Support claims and changes has been contained in the Income Support Guide (ISG). This occupied 12 binders. The Evidence Project was set up to take forward improvements in accuracy, security, and efficiency in Income Support processing. As part of this process the Guide Improvement Project was set up to re-write the existing Income Support guidance.There were also around 25 handbooks and additionally, 450 separate amendments, bulletins, and circulars issued to staff in a variety of formats and from a number of different sources. Many of these updates were themselves superseded by new developments. This was inevitably the cause of some inconsistency and confusion.In October 1998 all of the information contained in the documents described in the previous two paragraphs was replaced by IS Guidance and Procedures (GAP). The GAP was produced as a single 622W source of guidance incorporating all previously held instructions contained in the handbooks, guides, and bulletins. The GAP currently consists of eleven volumes with examples, flowcharts, and desk aids; in effect drawing together all of the current guidance in a new and consistent format. The Adjudication Officer's Guide will remain in its present format and the guidance that relates to Back to Work Bonus and Child Maintenance Bonus will be incorporated into the GAP at a future date.This overhaul was necessary to avoid compromising the efficiency of staff in collecting, assessing, and checking the evidence required to properly process Income Support claims. Early indications are that the GAP has been well received by staff in the field.Thank you for the opportunity to explain.