§ 7. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of war pensions welfare officers employed by his Department at the date of the merger and the latest available date; and the numbers of welfare officers at the date of the merger who are still engaged in those duties.
§ Mr. PeakeAt the date of the merger 85 war pensions welfare officers were employed by my Department. There are now 76 officers acting as welfare officers, of whom two are employed part-time. Of the officers in post at the date of the merger, 55 are still employed as welfare officers.
§ Mr. SimmonsIs the Minister aware it is felt that many of the welfare officers who were with the Department at the time of the merger have gone and that this means that there is a diminution in the welfare work? His figures show that there is a reduction in the number of welfare officers. Can he explain whether this reduction is temporary, or whether he intends to make appointments to fill the vacancies?
§ Mr. PeakeThe reduction is perfectly normal. Since the merger, war pensioners have been able to make their inquiries of a far more widely spread network of offices than they could before the merger. It is therefore not necessary to have as many welfare officers today as two years ago.
§ Mr. SimmonsDoes the Minister mean to say that a counter clerk can do the job that used to be done by welfare officers 1720 who had personal contacts with the pensioners, as was most important?
§ Mr. PeakeWe found that a great many war pensioners make inquiries at our local offices. Those inquiries previously needed a visit from the welfare officer.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs it a fact that the former very excellent welfare service is losing its identity in this larger organisation?
§ Mr. PeakeI should completely deny that and challenge anyone to show that since the merger there has been any deterioration whatsoever in the service we are giving to the war disabled.