§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent he estimates there would be a saving in costs if retirement pensions and all social security benefits were paid fortnightly instead of weekly: and whether he will give consideration to adopting this procedure.
§ Mr. DeakinsMy Department is at present considering ways of achieving savings in connection with the payment of social security benefits. But even if fortnightly payments were acceptable to beneficiaries generally, there would be a
£m. Number of employees (full-time equivalents) at*: Gross staff costs (i.e. gross salaries and wages) for: 30th September 1974 … … 667,800 1974–75 … … … … … 1,785 30th September 1975 … … 712,300 1975–76 … … … … … 2,352 30th September 1976 … … 739,300 1976–77 … … … … … 2,697 * The figures exclude independent practitioners, locums and agency staff but include staff of the Dental Estimates Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority. The figures for 1976 are provisional. The numbers of staff employed in the Department of Health and Social Security and the related average annual cross salary costs were as follows:
Offices in Regional Organisation Whole Department Staff Cost £m. Staff Cost £m. 1st October 1974 … … … … … 59,777 142 85,202 211 1st October 1975 … … … … … 63,675 192 90,500 283 1st October 1976 … … … … … 66,233 221 93,765 319 1st October 1977 … … … … … 69,472 237 96,585 339 Additional staff were required primarily because of the increase in the number of claimants to existing social security benefits but also because of such developments as the Child Benefit scheme, various new benefits for the disabled, and preparatory work on New Pensions. Also it was possible in the course of this period to recruit permanent staff to fill some 3,000 posts previously occupied by casual clerical staff.