§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Pensions how many area offices have been changed in status during the six months ending 30th June; what is the number of area offices that have been made into sub offices, full time and part time; in what districts the changes have been made; and in how many instances did the Area War Pension Committee object to the amalgamation of the area with an adjacent area or areas and the degrading of the office?
§ Major TRYONDuring the six months ended the 30th June, 1925, there were 11 instances in which the status of area offices was changed owing to staff amalgamation. In each of these cases one area office became a whole-time sub-office. The districts served by the offices so affected were as follows:
- 1. Consett, Blaydon and District.
- 2. Swindon, Chippenham and District.
- 3. King's Lynn and District.
- 4. Southport, Ormskirk and District.
- 5. Aldershot, Farnham and District.
- 6. Walsall and District.
- 7. Bromley, Sevenoaks and District.
- 8. Dorsetshire.
- 9. Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and District.
- 10. Peterborough, Huntingdon, March and District.
- 11. Perth and Kinross.
In seven instances the War Pensions Committee was opposed to any change, the opposition being based upon what, I think, must be the mistaken impression that pensioners in their area would suffer. I am glad to have this opportunity of stating that in no single instance has a complaint been received that a pensioner or applicant has been caused inconvenience or hardship by the reduction in the status of these offices.