§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what ways his Department and executive agencies deliver services to meet the needs of the public as consumers, with particular reference to families. [124531]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 5 June 2000]Mainly through its executive agencies, my Department provides a range of services direct to the public including services to vehicle owners, drivers and operators and those appealing against planning decisions. We seek to ensure these services are responsive to the needs of the consumer, for example by carrying out customer surveys, by publishing the standards of service that users can expect to receive and, in some cases, by extending opening hours to suit customer preferences. We are also gradually extending electronic availability of services to enable users to access them when they wish.
Although none of our services is targeted specifically at families, we seek to ensure that those with families can access them conveniently.