§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current workload of means-tested social security benefit claims and payments at his Department's local offices at Perry Barr and Handsworth in Birmingham; and how this compares with one and two years ago.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe principal means-tested social security benefit administered by the Department's local offices is supplementary benefit. Details of decisions made on claims received and payments issued during the most recent four week statistical period available, and the corresponding periods in 1982 and 1983, are set out in the table.
Periods ending 28 September 1982 27 September 1983 25 September 1984 Perry Barr Claims *1,146 1,772 2,061 Payments 5,463 5,490 6,043 Handsworth Claims *2,236 2,213 2,899 Payments 6,902 7,682 9,167 *Claims include decisions made on single and urgent need payments. The figures do not include NHS charges, prescription refunds on claims for welfare foods.