asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the design systems of his Department's computers are properly sychronised with the tasks to be undertaken by his Department in relation to the implementation of the proposals in his Green Paper on social security; and if he will make a statement.

Implementation of the proposals in the Green Paper on Reform of Social Security would require some changes to existing computer systems, and appropriate consideration of these is in hand. The need to allow for possible implementation of proposals in the Green Paper is being taken into account in the planning and development of new computer systems.