Benefits Agency And Confidentiality

EDM number 1684 in 1993-94, proposed by Liz Lynne on 31/10/1994.

That this House utterly condemns the practice that has come to light in Tyne Tees, North and West Yorkshire, Scotland, East Midlands, Wales, Greater Manchester and South East England where forms and letters being sent to benefits offices in those areas are being opened by postal workers as the result of yet another exercise in market testing; considers it completely unethical that claimants, doctors and other medical officers can no longer expect their business to be handled confidentially by the Government department to which it has been directed; is appalled that these changes in procedure were not notified to, or consulted on with the public or those affected directly by the changes; is concerned that opening and sorting of sensitive mail places an unfair burden on postal workers who are not trained for the purpose and who potentially face a conflict of interest; would deplore any loss of jobs in the benefits offices that this move could entail; and urges the Government to abandon immediately this wholly improper example of market testing.

This motion has been signed by a total of 12 MPs.