§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to date of the post office charges for carrying out emergency payment procedures for pensioners and others affected by the industrial dispute at Newcastle central office; how many beneficiaries are currently being paid by emergency procedures by: (a) stub payment at post offices, (b) Giro payment by local offices, (c) order books issued by local offices and (d) Giro payments from Newcastle central office.
§ Dr. BoysonThe estimated numbers of beneficiaries being paid by emergency procedures at present are:
- (a) stub payments at post officess: nearly 4 million.
- (b) and (c) Giro and order book payments by local offices: about 400,000.
- (d) payable order payments by Newcastle central office: about 115,000.
On the question of the costs arising from the Post Office emergency procedures I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member of 17 July at column 148.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the cost to date of overtime worked in his Department's offices as a consequence of the emergency procedures made necessary by the industrial dispute at Newcastle central office; and if he will estimate the extra hours of overtime worked in (a) local offices. (b) central offices and (c) regional offices and headquarters;
(2) if he will estimate the cost to date of the emergency procedures consequent on the industrial action at Newcastle central office.
§ Dr. BoysonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 July at column 148.