§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the siting of the Phase 2 Pension Service locations. [22478]
§ Mr. McCartneyIn my written answer on 4 July 2001,Official Report, column 195W, I announced plans for the new Pension Service and explained that it will offer a local service working in partnership with local authorities and voluntary organisations. To support the local service network, we will bring together the backroom processing in 26 locations rather than over 400 at present, allowing frontline staff to concentrate on dealing with customers.
At that time I also announced 19 of the first phase pension centre locations.
I am now pleased to announce that six additional new centres for the Pension Service have been secured in the Dearne Valley, Derby, Motherwell, Seaham, Stockport and York. In addition one of our existing social security offices in Norwich will become a pension centre.