§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve the means of informing pensioners of their obligations to notify the Pension Service when they have been in hospital for more than six weeks. [24064]
§ Mr. McCartneyIt is the responsibility of individuals to ensure they notify the Department of all relevant changes of circumstances. However, the introduction of the new Pension Service should make it easier for them to contact us.
Over time, the Pension Service will provide customers and staff with a wide range of contact channels through improved, Modern technology including telephony, digital television and the adoption of internet technology. Call and contact centres will be open longer than current office hours allowing customers to contact the Pension Service when it is convenient for them. For example we expect our pension centres to be open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm.
The Pension Service will provide a better environment for our face to face services. This will mean Pension Service staff will meet customers in places they frequent such as the local library, age concern or health centres.
In the future, the replacement of existing computers and the development of new systems that share the same data will mean that customers will not have to repeat the same information and provide the same evidence many times over.