Milk Tokens

Health written question – answered at on 10 January 2005.

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Photo of Andrew Stunell Andrew Stunell Shadow Chief Whip (Commons), Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Milk Token Hotline on 7 December had a pre-recorded message informing callers that all outstanding tokens would be issued by 29 November; when he will change the message; how many overdue milk tokens remained to be issued on 7 December; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Miss Melanie Johnson Miss Melanie Johnson Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health

holding answer 13 December 2004

On 1 November 2004, responsibility for the distribution of milk tokens to all beneficiaries of income support and income-based job seekers allowance transferred from the Department of Work and Pensions to the Department of Health. However, technical difficulties have led to a high volume of calls to the token distribution unit, which sends out tokens on the Department of Health's behalf.

The message was left on the helpline to inform beneficiaries that they should have received their December tokens by 29 November. Any caller who had not received their milk tokens would then know to stay on the line to seek further assistance. All beneficiaries notified to us by the Inland Revenue (recipients of child tax credit) and the Department for Work and Pensions were mailed by 29 November.

To allow for Christmas, the next mailing was sent out a week early, so the message advises that the next mailing should have been received by 21 December.

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