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Dept of Social Security;Social Security Benefits Agency

Answer

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact which the projected Benefits Agency overspend will have on staff in Somerset. [110461] Angela Eagle: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member. Letter from Peter Mathison to Jackie Ballard, dated 22 February 2000: The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary question about the impact which the projected Benefits Agency (BA) overspend will have on staff in Somerset. A conscious decision was taken at the beginning of the 1999/2000 financial year to maintain staffing levels at the agreed level in order to ensure we were in a position to update as much work as possible before the millennium, to minimise any potential disruption to service. This decision was reflected in the allocation of resources to the field network, including Somerset District, and was agreed shortly after the start of the financial year. This strategy helped the Agency in service delivery and also to maintain and improve standards through the year. However, indicators were that unless some action was taken in the latter part of the year to reduce costs, the total expenditure for the Agency would exceed our annual budget allocations. Such measures, undertaken in all areas included: no overtime working [except in exceptional circumstances] minimal use of casual staff no recognition payments and the deferral of incentive payments to defer posting recruited staff until April 2000 deferral of mandatory and non-mandatory training Somerset District, in line with other local districts, took these measures to ensure the Agency lived within it's budget while continuing to maintain service to the public. At the outset of the year a resource allocation was made to Somerset which allowed for an average 371.49 whole-time equivalent staff to be employed compared with the 1998/99 average of 347.13, an increase of over 24 staff for the year. Staffing on mainstream District business is currently still running above the 1999/2000 allocation of 371.49 and is expected to do so until the end of March when the anticipated position will be 385.27. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

345 c183-4W;345 c183W; 110461

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Expenditure Staff Somerset Social Security Benefits Agency

Contains statistics

Yes