§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if staff calculating benefit entitlement at the Benefits Agency will be able to electronically access information held by the Inland Revenue on each of the tax credits. [113623]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my right hon Friend.
843WLetter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 9 March 2000:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if staff calculating benefit entitlement at the Benefits Agency will be able to electronically access information held by the Inland Revenue on each of the tax credits.Relevant information held by the Inland Revenue Tax Credit Office can be accessed electronically by Benefits Agency staff to enable them to accurately calculate benefit entitlement.There is a mechanism which allows one computer system to access the enquiry dialogues of another. This enables staff within the BA to access the enquiry dialogues of the Tax Credit system and vice versa.