HC Deb 16 March 1979 vol 964 cc376-7W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what purposes and under what authority the Department of Health and Social Security inspector of Hilden House, Warrington, keeps a register of small businesses in his area separately from personal national insurance records.

Mr. Deakins

Local offices keep records of all businesses in the local office area to enable inspectors appointed under section 144 of the Social Security Act 1975 to carry out their duty of ensuring that the provisions of the Act and regulations are being complied with.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of the register of small businesses in the Warrington area kept by the Department of Health and Social Security inspector of Hilden House, Warrington.

Mr. Deakins

The records of small businesses are not separately maintained from those of other businesses, and the cost of maintaining them is not known. An estimate could be made only at disproportionate cost to public funds.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether Department of Health and Social Security officers keep registers of small businesses in their areas; and, if so, whether they are similar to those kept by the local Department of Health and Social Security inspector of Hilden House, Warrington.

Mr. Deakins

All local national insurance offices keep records of all businesses in their area: they are on similar lines to those maintained by the Department's office at Hilden House, Warrington.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the local Department of Health and Social Security inspector of Hilden House, Warrington, is asking small business men in his area for details concerning the nature of their businesses, the legal status of their businesses, how many employees each business has and what the proprietors' income tax reference numbers are.

Mr. Deakins

The information requested is to assist the Department's inspectors to plan and carry out their duty, under section 144 of the Social Security Act 1975, of ensuring that the provisions of the Act and regulations are being complied with.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for how many years the Department of Health and Social Security office at Hilden House, Warrington, has kept a register of local small businesses.

Mr. Deakins

The Department's office at Hilden House, Warrington, has kept a record of all businesses in the area since the office opened. Records of this kind have been kept since the introduction of compulsory health and unemployment insurance.