To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements are currently undertaken by his Department to monitor the time taken to reply to a Member's letter passed on by his Department for attention of the Benefits Agency.

A computer record is maintained of all such letters, and any overdue replies pursued. Ministers receive a copy of all replies. It is the agency's aim to reply to all letters as quickly as possible once the facts of the case have been established. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me.