§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the length of time that claimants in London N.8 have to wait for home visits from officers based at the Archway, Highgate local office of his Department.
§ Mr. NewtonI am satisfied that management makes every effort to keep the waiting time for home visits to claimants to a minimum. It is of course for the manager to ensure that staff resources are used to maximum effect given the work priorities at any particular time. At the Archway, Highgate office, visits to claimants where payment of supplementary benefit is not already being made are normally cleared within a week, although in cases of urgency an immediate visit can be arranged. Visits to claimants already in receipt of supplementary benefit where additional payments are being claimed are generally made within two or three weeks.