§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the extent of the hold-up in monthly pension payments from the Newcastle upon Tyne office; and what alternative payment procedures are being implemented.
§ Dr. BoysonBecause of strike action by some computer staff at our Newcastle Central Office no payable orders have been issued since 11 May to those pensioners in Great Britain who are normally paid either 4 weekly or quarterly by that method. The pensioners affected can obtain payment of their pension by contacting their local social security office on or after the date on which their payment is due. They are asked to let the local office see the tear-off portion of the last payable order received, if they have it.
Payments by computer-produced payable order to pensioners outside Great Britain also ceased on 11 May. But under emergency arrangements now in operation manually-prepared payable orders are being issued to pensioners overseas who contact our overseas branch at Newcastle.