HC Deb 29 February 2000 vol 345 c234W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of DSS benefit offices; how many are linked to the Internet; what estimate he has made of the cost of linking DSS offices to the Internet which are not so linked; and if he will make a statement. [111398]

Angela Eagle

The administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 28 February 2000: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the total number of DSS benefit offices; how many are linked to the Internet; and what estimate he has made of the cost of linking DSS offices to the Internet which are not so linked. I can confirm that the total number of DSS benefit offices is 440. In this instance I have assumed you refer to Benefits Agency local and district offices and the Benefits Centres. Of these, 26 are linked to the Internet via a standalone telephone connection. The estimated cost of linking the remaining 414 offices in a similar way would be around £400,000. I hope this is helpful.

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