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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 993W, on the ONE pilot, what feedback he has had from the introduction of the form by the north Nottinghamshire private and voluntary sector pilot; and if he will make a statement. [66484] Mr. Nicholas Brown: The use of a uniform Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit claim form by the North Nottinghamshire Private and Voluntary Sector pilot has not been formally evaluated. However, informal feedback suggests that the introduction of the form has achieved savings on printing costs for the local authorities concerned, and that staff can also complete and check the form more quickly, providing a more efficient service to customers. Building on the experience of the ONE pilots, the Customer Management System, which we plan to introduce early next year, will result in a uniform, single claims process for customers. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit information will be gathered when a claim is made to either Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, so that customers will need to provide information only once.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

66484; 389 c1594-5W;389 c1593-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Council tax benefits Applications Housing benefit Forms Pilot schemes Nottinghamshire ONE programme

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk