HC Deb 16 September 2004 vol 424 cc1733-4WS
Mr. Best

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact on services of the proposals to reduce civil service jobs in his Department. [189128]

Maria Eagle

The Department's plans to reduce its staffing levels are part of a four year programme of modernisation made possible by a significant investment of public money. The investment has enabled the Department to streamline its processes, modernise its IT and improve its service to customers as a result. The first phase of these plans designed to increase the efficiency of benefit processing was announced to the House on 29 June. The latest phase of the Department's continuing modernisation programme was announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State in a written ministerial statement earlier today.

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