Contributions Agency

Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list (a) as at May 1994 and (b) as at the latest available date the addresses of bases of clerical staff of the Contributions Agency; [37221](2) what plans he has further to centralise the activities of the Contributions Agency; and if he will make a statement; [37222](3) to what extent the Contributions Agency office at Inverness is affected by plans to centralise activities of the Contributions Agency. [37223]

Mr. Heald
The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 17 October 1995: As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency. I have been asked to reply to your questions about the addresses of bases of the Agency's clerical staff, plans to centralise the Agency's activities and the effects on the Agency's office in Inverness of these plans. In view of the nature of the questions I have combined the responses. The tables in Annex 1 show the offices with a clerical presence in the Agency's Field Operations in May 1994 while those at Annex 2 show the position at September 1995. In addition to our Field Operations, clerical staff were also based (both in May 1994 and September 1995) at our Centre in Newcastle and Civil Recoveries Sections in Bootle, Cardiff, Edinburgh and King's Lynn. A recent business analysis of our Field Operations and a review of the pay and grading structure have recommended significant changes to the organisation. In 1991, the Agency began to move towards a Field Operations network of some 184 Field Offices supported by 90 National Insurance Outsations. Current research has shown that there is a need to match more closely Contributions Agency outlets to customer requirements while still maintaining nationwide cover for the administration of the NI scheme. Information has been obtained about density of business, density of population and locations of the  self-employed. This information has been incorporated into the design of a new network to consist of around 100–115 locations, comprising 70–75 Field Offices and 30–40 Inspector outstations, which will maintain the commitment to service delivery outlined in the Contributions Agency Contributors' and Employers' Charters. It is proposed to achieve the rationalisation of the Field Operations network within the next two to five years. There are no further plans to centralise beyond the current proposals. In Scotland, it is proposed that clerical processing work which does not require face to face contact will be centred in the major cities. A network of National Insurance Inspector outlets will be developed to provide a local service to the Agency's customers by appointment at a local office of the Department of Social Security, or by visit. Under these proposals the Contributions Agency office at Inverness will operate as a National Insurance outlet with clerical processing at either Aberdeen or Edinburgh. I hope that my reply proves helpful. Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance. Contributions Agency Field Operations Clerical Processing Locations as at May 1994AberdareAberdeen NorthAberystwythAccringtonActonAirdrieAldershotAndoverAshfordAshingtonAshton under LyneAylesburyAyrBalhamBanburyBarkingBarnetBarnsley EastBarrowBasildonBasingstokeBathBathgateBedfordBexleyBirmingham LadywoodBirmingham Perry BarrBirmingham RavenhurstBirmingham South YardleyBlackpool NorthBlackpool SouthBloomsburyBostonBournemouthBracknellBradford WestBrightonBristol SouthBristol WestBristol HorfieldBrixtonBromleyBury St. EdmondsBuryCaernarfonCambridgeCannockCanterburyCardiff GabalfaCarlisleChathamCarmarthenChelmsfordChester le StreetChesterChesterfieldChichesterClydebankColchesterColwyn BayCoventryCrawleyCricklewoodCreweCroydonCumbernauldCwmbranDarlingtonDartfordDewsburyDerby Heritage GateDoncaster EastDoverDudley NorthDumfriesDumbartonDundee EastEalingEastbourneEbbw ValeEast KilbrideEdgwareEdmontonEdinburgh (Argyle House)EpsomEstonEustonExeterFalkirkFarehamFarnworthFulhamGalashielsGatesheadGlasgow NorthGlasgow SouthGlasgow LauriestonGloucesterGraysGreenockGuildfordHalifaxHamiltonHarlowHarrowHartlepoolHastingsHavantHaveringHay wards HeathHemel HempsteadHerefordHertfordHighgateHigh WycombeHither GreenHounslowHoxtonHuddersfieldHullIlfordIlkestonInvernessIpswichKeighleyKennington ParkKensingtonKidderminsterKilmarnockKings LynnKingstonKirkcaldyLancasterLauncestonLeamington SpaLeicester (Leicester House)Leeds EastLeeds NorthLeeds North WestLeeds WestLincolnLiverpool (St. Martins House)LlangefniLondon CityLowestoftLutonMaidstoneManchester BishopsgateMansfieldManchester ChorltonMansfieldMilton KeynesNeasdenNewburyNew ForestNewcastle upon Tyne (St. James)NewhamNew MaldenNothallertonNorthamptonNorth ShieldsNottingham (Shakespeare St.)Nottingham (Station St.)NuneatonNorwich ChantryNorwich MountergateOldhamOxfordPaddingtonPaisleyPeckhamPenzancePeterboroughPeterleePlymouthPontypriddPoolePoplarPortsmouth NorthPrestonReadingRedditchRedhillRhylRochdaleRossendaleRotherham SouthSalisburySalford SouthScarboroughScunthorpeSheffield (Hutton Buildings)ShrewsburySkelmerdaleSloughSouthamptonSouthendSouthportSouthwickSt. AlbansSt. AustellSt. HelensStevenageStirlingStockport NorthStocktonStokeSunderland NorthSuttonSwanseaThames North (Scarborough St.)TorbayTunbridge WellsUxbridgeWakefieldWallaseyWalsallWalthamstowWarringtonWatfordWellingboroughWest BromwichWeymouthWiganWinchesterWishawWokingWolverhampton NorthWood GreenWoolwichWorcesterWorkingtonWrexhamYork

Annex 2

Clerical Processing Locations as at September 1995 Aberdeen NorthAberystwythAccringtonAldershotAshingtonAylesburyAyrBalhamBanburyBarkingBarnetBarnsley EastBarrowBasildonBathBathgateBedfordBirmingham LadywoodBirmingham Perry BarrBirmingham RavenhurstBirmingham South YardleyBexleyBlackpool SouthBloomsburyBostonBournemouthBradford WestBristol HorfieldBromleyBury St. EdmundsCaernarfonCambridgeCannockCardiff GabalfaCarlisleChathamCarmarthenChelmsfordChesterChichesterColchesterColwyn BayCoventryCricklewoodCreweCroydonCwmbranDarlingtonDartfordDewsburyDerby Heritage GateDoncaster EastDoverDudley NorthDundee EastEalingEbbw ValeEdgwareEdmontonEpsomEdinburgh (Argyle House)EstonEustonExeterFalkirkFarehamFarnworthFulhamGatesheadGlasgow NorthGlasgow SouthGloucesterGuildfordHalifaxHamiltonHarlowHarrowHartlepoolHastingsHaverfordwestHaveringHendonHaywards HeathHemel HempsteadHerefordHertfordHighgateHigh WycombeHoxtonHuddersfieldHullIlfordInvernessIpswichKings LynnKingstonLancasterLauncestonLeamington SpaLeicester (Wellington St.)Leeds EastLeeds North WestLeeds WestLincolnLiverpool (St. Martins House)LlangefniLondon CityLowestoftLutonMaidstoneManchester BishopsgateMansfieldMilton KeynesNeasdenNewhamNew MaldenNorthallertonNorthamptonNuneatonNottingham (Shakespeare St.)Nottingham (Station St.)Norwich ChantryOxfordPaddingtonPaisleyPeckhamPenzancePeterboroughPlymouthPontypriddPoolePoplarPortsmouth NorthPrestonReadingRedditchRhylRotherham SouthSalisburyScarboroughShrewsburySheffield (Hutton Buildings)SloughSouthamptonSouthendSt. AlbansSt. AustellStevenageStockport NorthStocktonStoke (Hanley)SuttonSunderland NorthSwanseaThames North (Scarborough St.)TorbayTunbridge WellsWakefield WallaseyWalthamstowWarringtonWatfordWellingboroughWest BromwichWeymouthWiganWolverhampton NorthWood GreenWoolwichWorcesterWorkingtonWrexhamYork