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Written question asked by Stephen Hammond (Conservative) on Monday, 23 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 October 2006. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 November 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Milk Tokens

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls the milk token helpline has received about delays in the delivery of milk tokens in each month since January 2003; and what proportion of total calls each figure represents.
Answer

Information on the number of calls about delays in the delivery of milk tokens is not collected separately.When delays occur they generally result in a request for the tokens to be re-issued. Milk tokens can be re-issued for a number of reasons including not being received due to a change of address, not being received due to being lost in transit or being received but subsequently either damaged, lost or stolen.The total number of calls received by the token distribution unit operated helpline for 2004 and 2005 is shown in the following table:

2004 2005
Total yearly number of calls answered by operators 90,731 295,395
Monthly average number of calls answered by operators 7,561 24,616
Total yearly number of token re-issues 9,264 45,768
Average number of token re-issues per month 772 3,814

Calls are received from the approximate 720,000 eligible beneficiaries as well as other inquirers. Since November 2004, when a new application process for pregnant women was introduced for the first time, information materials produced for the scheme have actively encouraged beneficiaries and the public to contact the helpline if they have any questions or problems. Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries to get information to help them to apply and use their tokens.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
451 c1839-40W;451 c1841-2W; 97340
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Welfare milk
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk