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SOCIAL SECURITY

Skipton Benefits Agency

Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans exist to reduce the staffing levels and ranges of services at Skipton Benefits Agency; [9104]

(2) which existing occupiers of Cavendish House in Skipton intend to vacate the premises; and what new occupiers she expects will move in; [9106]

(3) what is the catchment area of the Benefits Agency at Cavendish House, Skipton; [9105]

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(4) if the present level of service and staff presence will be maintained at Skipton Benefits Agency during the current review. [9107]

Mr. Field: One of our key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. In order to maintain and improve the level of service whilst keeping within announced spending totals, managers have decided to move the processing of benefits from the Benefits Agency office at Skipton to the Keighley office. Queries on operational matters are for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member directly and for his reply to be published with the answer. Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Curry, dated 17 July 1997:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning the Benefits Agency (BA) office at Cavendish House in Skipton.

The BA is currently undertaking a radical reappraisal of its services and the way they are delivered, in order to maintain and improve the level of service provided whilst keeping within the spending targets that have been set for the next two years.

The Agency is committed to ensuring that people will get the help they need to claim the benefits they are entitled to. The Yorkshire Area Directorate remains committed to providing a high level of service to its customers and equal access to the benefit system for all members of the public.

It is expected that all benefit processing work will be transferred from the BA office at Skipton to the Keighley office by 15 September 1997. There are currently 27 staff based in Skipton

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of which 6 or 7 will remain. The range of services offered to the public will be unaltered and customers should not notice any difference in the level of service.

As far as the BA is aware the other occupants, currently Inland Revenue and Employment Services, intend to remain in Cavendish House.

The Skipton catchment area incorporates Bolton Abbey, Buckden, Cowling, Cray, Crosshills, Gargrave, Grassington, Hellifield, Kettlewell, Long Preston, Malham, Ribblehead, Settle and Skipton.

I can confirm that the present levels of service of staff presence have remained unaltered during the review.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Debt Payment

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the policy of her Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is her Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9524]

Mr. Field: All departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is the later, where no such terms exist. Information on this Department's record in the current financial year is not yet available. The Government will publish a league of departmental payment performance for 1996-97 in the Autumn.

Benefits Offices

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to visit the Uxbridge Benefits Agency; and if she will make a statement. [9335]

Mr. Field: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, intends visiting the Uxbridge office in the near future.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to review the previous Government's rationalisation of benefits offices; and if she will make a statement. [9331]

Mr. Field: We are working to deliver our aim of modernising social security delivery so that we offer a better, simpler and more efficient service. As a key part of this, we will be looking at all proposals affecting national and local delivery to ensure that they meet these criteria.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Indonesia (Exports)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the (a) number and (b) categories of export licences granted to Greys Defence Systems Ltd. since 1988 for the export of military, security, police equipment and services to Indonesia; and if she will make a statement on the equipment and services provided. [3688]

Mrs. Roche: Companies House records show that Greys Defence Systems Ltd. was incorporated on 20 September 1994. Readily available records show that no export licences have been granted to this company for Indonesia.

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Ann Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the export licences granted to (a) Procurement Services International and (b) Greys Defence Systems Ltd. for (i) the export of police and security vehicles to the Indonesian Road Police and (ii) the transfer of 8x8 armoured vehicles to Indonesia. [3635]

Mrs. Roche: Four export licences have been granted to Procurement Services International for the export of police and security vehicles to the Indonesian police. None of the applications has referred to Road Police, all exports have been destined for Sabhara--the traffic police, Dalmas--local police or Brimob--police mobile brigade. The Department does not maintain records of the actual transfers made under the export licences it issues.

No export licences have been granted to Greys Defence Systems Ltd., for Indonesia.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department made of applications from GKN Defence for the export of MOWAG armoured or internal security vehicles to Indonesia. [3640]

Mrs. Roche: Release of the information requested is being considered under the Code of Practice for access to Government Information and a substantive reply will be made as soon as possible.

Armoured Vehicle Exports

Ann Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will make a statement on the export licences granted to Transac International for the export of armoured or internal security vehicles since 1988, indicating the amounts involved, export licence category, countries and security forces units of destination in each case; [3641]

(2) if she will list (a) the export licences granted to Gulf Transac for the export of armoured or internal security vehicles since 1988 and (b) the amounts, export licence category, countries and security forces units of destination in each case. [3524]

Mrs. Roche: Release of the information requested is being considered under the Code of Practice for access to Government Information and a substantive reply will be made as soon as possible.

Petrol Prices

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumer Affairs will meet the Highland and Islands Action Group to discuss the effect of the increase in petrol prices resulting from the Budget. [8350]

Mr. Nigel Griffiths [holding answer 14 July 1997]: My hon. Friend the Member for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber (Mr. Stewart) has already arranged for me to meet the Highlands and Islands Action Group. If the hon. Member has any interest I would be delighted if she could join us.

BT (School Internet Services)

Mr. Redwood: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he has reviewed the competition policy

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consequences of the Government agreement with BT to provide free Internet services to each school; and if he will make a statement; [8916]

(2) when every school will have access to the free Internet service for all schools which the Government are planning; [8918]

(3) when Oftel will announce its findings concerning the Government's agreement with BT to provide free Internet services to each school in return for permitting BT earlier access to the broadcast market. [8919]

Mrs. Roche: The Government welcomes BT's proposal of a special deal for schools, and the offers which the Cable companies have brought forward. These initiatives, which aim to offer schools access to advanced on-line services at affordable and predictable rates, will be of key importance in fulfilling the Government's commitment to wire up schools to the Information Superhighway free of charge, and to make access charges as low as possible.

There are issues relating to BT's proposal which require Oftel to consult others in the industry, in line with its regulatory duties. We are pleased that Oftel has now published its consultation document, proposing options specifically designed to encourage participation by all telecommunication companies, and competition between different telecommunications companies and Internet service providers. This illustrates the way forward, with all operators working in partnership. Oftel will work towards a final conclusion in September.

It is of course up to individual schools to decide whether or not to take up the cable industry's offer, or BT's proposal when it is available, and it is therefore not possible to indicate when every school will connect to the Internet. The Government will publish in the Autumn a consultation paper on the National Grid for Learning which will address key issues including network links, ICT infrastructure, software, services, teacher training and technical support.

The Government is, in line with its manifesto commitments, separately considering the way forward on questions relating to the regulatory restrictions on BT and other Public Telecoms operators. Oftel is involved in that process. The issues involved are complicated--relating not just to competition in telecoms but also to wider broadcasting issues--and must be considered carefully. The Government would expect to publish proposals on the way forward in the Autumn.

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