§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff are employed in the offices of the Department of Health and Social Security in Cinderford and Lydney; what is the annual running costs of those offices; and how this compares with the cost five years ago.
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§ Mr. Alec JonesOne clerical officer is employed at each office. The current costs, excluding salaries, with the comparative figures for five years ago in brackets, are £560 (£950) at Lydney and £1,000 (£1,180) at Cinderford.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many calls officials of the Department of Health and Social Security have made on people in the Cinderford and Lydney area in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. Alec JonesDuring the 12 months ended 29th October 1974 there were 6,796 effective visits, of which 4,637 concerned claims for supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people are dealt with at the inquiry offices of the Department of Health and Social Security in Cinderford and Lydney each week;
(2) what proportion of people calling at the inquiry offices of the Department of Health and Social Security at Cinder-ford and Lydney is pensioners.
§ Mr. Alec JonesDuring the last six months there were on average 96 callers each week at Lydney and 75 at Cinder-ford Of these 11 and seven respectively made inquiries about retirement pensions. The numbers of pensioners making inquiries about other matters were not separately recorded.