HC Deb 19 December 1966 vol 738 cc210-2W
104. Mr. Hamling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the duties of the 652 persons employed in the Paymaster-General's office; and why the cost of overtime has increased by 66⅔ per cent. in the current year as compared with the previous year.

Mr. Diamond

Of 643 staff in post, 580 are engaged in banking and pensions work; 48 in common services; and 15 in planning a computer installation.

The Pensions (Increase) Act, 1965 required heavy overtime; expenditure in 1965–66 was £25,550, and in the current year is expected not to exceed £15,000.

105. Mr. Hamling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 652 staff in the Paymaster-General's office are engaged on Northern Ireland affairs; and how many live in Northern Ireland.

106. Mr. Ellis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the Paymaster-General's staff are employed on Northern Ireland affairs.

Mr. William Hamling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to increase the sum included in the estimates of the Paymaster-General's office recoverable by deduction from the Northern Ireland share of reserved taxes.

Mr. Diamond

The Office has no staff exclusively concerned with Northern Ireland affairs or resident there. It pays the pensions of the disbanded Royal Irish Constabulary and of certain Civil Servants who were "existing Irish Officers" on the appointed day under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. The cost of these pensions, and of their administration, attributable to Northern Ireland, is recovered from the Northern Ireland share of reserved taxes. I see no case for altering the basis of charge.

107. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the installation of a computer in the Paymaster-General's department and of the advantages expected from it.

Mr. Diamond

An English Electric Leo-Marconi System 4/50 computer, to be installed at Crawley in autumn 1967, will absorb the Department's routine, both banking and pension services, during 1968 and 1969; and will enable a rising work load to be handled at lower unit cost.

Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the Paymaster-General's staff are engaged on information services work.

Mr. Diamond

None.