§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it has become necessary to close his Department's office at Denton, which was already some distance from Brinnington, Stockport, and to establish the office at Hyde, which is a considerable distance from Stockport.
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§ Mr. PentlandThe Denton office was not large; enough for the volume of work arising in its area and, in the interests of efficiency and economy, it was decided to concentrate work in this part of the region at Hyde and Stockport. Brinnington is already served for national insurance purposes by the office at 22 High Street, Stockport, and it is intended to transfer the supplementary benefits work to Stockport as soon as sufficient accommodation can be obtained there.
§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special arrangements are being made for retirement pensioners and sick people living in Brinnington, Stockport, who will now have to travel a considerable distance to his Department's new office at Hyde.
Mr. PortlandClaims for retirement pensions and other national insurance benefits made by people in the Brinnington area are dealt with by the office at 22 High Street, Stockport. Supplementary benefits claims for this area will, for the time being, be transferred to the new office at Hyde. Arrangements can be made to visit people at home if they prefer not to call at this office.