Vol. 409 No. 4
26 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that all the correspondence in future going to members of the public from his Department will not only be signed but the name would be typed also at the end of the communication as the public are finding it impossible to read the name of the correspondent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is a standing instruction to my Department's staff to have their names typed below their signatures on letters. This is now the normal practice. As the Deputy will know we have greatly improved our communications with the public and it is our policy to continue to do so. I am arranging to have staff reminded of this requirement to type or print their names clearly.
Where for practical reasons typing is not possible, for example in offices where there are no typing facilities, I have asked that staff be instructed to print their names in block capitals below their signatures.
It is my Department's policy, as part of the ongoing expansion of their computer network, to progressively supply all offices with facilities which will enable them to deal in a businesslike way with all their clients. In the meantime, if the Deputy is aware of a particular instance where a client is having difficulty with correspondence from my Department, perhaps he would bring it to my attention and I will look into the matter.
