§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who decides the amounts to be paid for meals and overnight accommodation under the assisted prison visits scheme.
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§ Mr. WaddingtonThere are no immediate plans to reduce the number of staff at the Liverpool passport office. The hon. Member will be aware from my right hon. and learned Friend's statement on 24 July 1984, at column 567, of the decision to accept the recommendation of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the subsequent Rayner review of the passports offices, to computerise the issue of passports. As well as providing a speedier service to the travelling public, computerisation is expected to show some staff savings, but these cannot yet be quantified.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed in the Liverpool passport office in May 1979; what were the figures at the latest date; and what is the proposed establishment.
§ Mr. WaddingtonOn 1 May 1979 there were 209 staff (including 29 casuals) in post at the Liverpool passport office; on 1 February 1985 the figure was 192 (including five casuals). The authorised complement of 206 is unlikely to change in the immediate future unless there is a significant change in demand for passport services.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations have taken place with the Civil Service unions concerning proposed reductions in staff employed in passport offices.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Home Office trade union side has been consulted about the full computer study now in progress. It has been assured that further discussions will take place before any implementation programme is considered.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were employed in the passport offices in England and Wales in May 1979; and what was the figure at the latest available date.
§ Mr. WaddingtonOn 1 May 1979 there were 941 staff (including 156 casuals) in post at passport offices in England and Wales; on 28 January 1985 the figure was 831 (including 19 casuals).
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of (a) applications for passports and (b) other items of business transacted at the Liverpool passport office in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe following table gives statistics of the passport services provided by the Liverpool passport office in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. MellorThe Department of Health and Social Security administers this scheme on behalf of the Home Office and its local offices determine subsistence payments in individual cases. I understand that the rates are broadly the same as for similar claims under the supplementary benefit scheme.