Department of Social Security (United Kingdom) explained

Agency Name:	Department of Social Security
Type:	Department
Formed:	1988
Preceding1:	Department of Health and Social Security
Dissolved:	2001
Superseding:	Department for Work and Pensions
Jurisdiction:	United Kingdom
Headquarters:	Leeds, United Kingdom
Minister1 Name:	Various incumbents
Minister1 Pfo:	Secretary of State for Social Security
Child1 Agency:	Employment Service
Child2 Agency:	Benefits Agency
Child3 Agency:	Contributions Agency
Child4 Agency:	Child Support Agency
Child5 Agency:	Information Technology Services Agency

The Department of Social Security (DSS) was a governmental agency in the United Kingdom from 1988 to 2001.

History

After the Fowler report, the Department of Health and Social Security separated during 1988 to form two departments, one of which was the DSS.^[1] During 2001, the department was largely replaced by the Department for Work and Pensions,^{[2] [3]} with the other responsibilities of the department assumed by the Treasury and the Ministry for Defence.^[4]

Beginning in 1989, the Department of Social Security was subdivided into six executive agencies - firstly into the Resettlement agency, in 1990 ITSA (Information Technology Services Agency), the Benefits Agency and Contributions Agency in 1991, the Child Support Agency in 1993 and the War Pensions Agency in 1994.^[1]

As part of the UK government's spending review (March 1998),^[5] a paper New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare (1998) announced plans to increase efficiency ("streamline") in the administration of benefits from policy of social welfare, plans subsequently adopted as the "single gateway to benefits".^{[6] [7]} The Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999^{[8] [9]} brought reforms to the DSS guided by the principle of "work for those that can and security for those that cannot".^[10]

Secretaries of state

Secretaries of State for Social Security (1988–2001)

Secretary of State			Term of office		Political party	Cabinet
		John Moore^[11]	25 July 1988	22 July 1989		Conservative	Thatcher III
		Tony Newton^[12]	23 July 1989	9 April 1992	Conservative
					Major I
		Peter Lilley^[13]	10 April 1992	1 May 1997		Conservative		Major II
		Harriet Harman^[14]	1 May 1997	27 July 1998		Labour	Blair I
		Alistair Darling^[15]	27 July 1998	8 June 2001		Labour

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dept. of Social Security . Resource Accounts 2000-2001. 2012-06-06. rightsnet.org.
2. Web site: The welfare state 1945–2002. BBC News. 26 April 2012. 5 August 2002.
3. Web site: Department of Social Security renamed. Practical Law Company. 26 April 2012. 29 June 2001.
4. Web site: E Carmel & T Papadopoulos. The New governance of Social Security in Britain. 2012-06-06. University of Bath.
5. http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/pub/html/csr/dss.html transcription of DSS:July 1998
6. Book: J. P. A. Van Vugt, J. Peet. Social Security and Solidarity in the European Union: Facts, Evaluations, and Perspectives. 2012-06-06. Springer, 2000. 9783790813340. 2000-11-16.
7. secondary - G Duncan, T Eardley, M Evans, P Ughetto, W van Oorschot S Wright - Towards 'Single Gateways'?-A Cross-National Review of the Changing Roles of Employment Offices in Seven Countries
8. J Fulbrook DOI: 10.1111/1468-2230.00318 The Modern Law Review March 2001 Retrieved 2012-06-06
9. The Crown (legislation.gov) Table of Contents The National Archives - Retrieved 2012-06-06
10. The Crown (legislation.gov) Background to the Act The National Archives - Retrieved 2012-06-06
11. Web site: Lord Moore of Lower Marsh . UK Parliament . 10 September 2021.
12. Web site: Lord Newton of Braintree . UK Parliament . 10 September 2021.
13. Web site: Lord Lilley . UK Parliament . 10 September 2021.
14. Web site: Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP . UK Parliament . 10 September 2021.
15. Web site: Lord Darling of Roulanish . UK Parliament . 10 September 2021.