§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many emergency offices of his Department there are; how much money was handed out by each of these offices, respectively, in the last year for which figures are available; and what facilities exist for the making of emergency payments in areas where there are no emergency offices open at weekends or on public holidays.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe only emergency office is in London and it covers an area radiating about five miles from Charing Cross. It operates in the evenings, at weekends and on public holidays. Benefits paid out are estimated at about £20,000 per annum. Elsewhere emergencies arising outside office hours are dealt with by staff operating from their homes who are contactable by telephone through the police, social service departments and certain other agencies.
544W