HC Deb 22 June 1981 vol 7 cc21-2W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report (a) the number and (b) the administrative cost of employment of the staff who are currently employed specifically on (i) fraud and abuse detection in his Department's local offices, and (ii) promoting the take-up of benefits in local offices (x) nationally and (y) in Cambridgeshire; and what were the corresponding figures in each of the last 12 months.

Mr. Rossi

As was indicated in the statement placed in the Library on 4 June 1981, a total of 5,640 man-years was used on specialist anti fraud and abuse work in the 1980–81 year. The cost of the annual salary and necessary incidental expenses of these staff is estimated to amount to £54 million. Corresponding figures for We staff employed in the two local offices which cover Cambridgeshire are estimated to be 18 man-years and £172,000. The figures for staff actually employed during individual months of the year could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Department does not employ staff specifically for the purpose of promoting the take-up of benefits but the duties of most staff in the Department's local offices are designed to further the Department's aim of ensuring that individuals receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff are currently employed in his Department in local offices; and what have been the corresponding figures in each of the last 12 months, with the percentage change in each case.

Mrs. Chalker

The numbers of permanent staff employed in DHSS local offices for each of the 12 months from 1 June 1980 to 1 May 1981, with the percentage change from the previous month, were as follows:

Number of Staff Percentage changes
1 June 1980 64,785 —
1 July 1980 65,063 +0.43
1 August 1980 65,333 +0.41
1 September 1980 65,644 +0.48
1 October 1980 65,648 +0.01
1 November 1980 65,690 +0.06
1 December 1980 66,036 +0.53
1 January 1981 65,791 -0.37
1 February 1981 65,707 -0.13
1 March 1981 65,394 -0.48
1 April 1981 65,047 -0.53
1 May 1981 65,027 -0.03

These figures include those increases in staff, needed as a result of increased numbers of beneficiaries.