§ Mr. Butterfillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the measures being taken to alleviate the problems of pensioners who have been unable to collect arrears of pensions due to the non-issue of pension books arising out of the strike of computer operators at the Newcastle office of his Department.
§ Dr. BoysonUnder the emergency arrangements which have been in operation since the strike began, post offices can continue to make payments to pensioners whose renewal pension order book has not arrived at the post office. Only one week's pension at a time can be drawn at the post office under the emergency arrangements, and pensioners should therefore collect their payments every week. Pensioners who cannot get to the post office can ask someone else to collect their payments for them. Any pensioner who has missed one or more emergency payments at the post office can obtain the missed payments by contacting the local social security office.
409WNew pensioners who have not been issued with their first order book will have their pension payments issued from their local social security office whilst the strike continues.