§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are currently employed by his Department in preparing the way for the full implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 in April 1988; how many of these were recruited especially for this task; and what is the cost of the preparatory work.
§ Mr. ScottInformation is not held in the precise form requested.
At 1 October 1987 there were 71,100 full-time equivalent staff in local offices both maintaining the current social security scheme and preparing for implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 from April 1988. Some 2,400 of these staff were recruited especially for the latter task. In addition, 110 full-time equivalent staff—increasing to 600 by 1 April 1988—are working on family credit which will be administered from North Fylde central office. Thus, at April 1988 there will be about 3,000 additional staff in post to introduce the new benefits. These staff, who will have cost an estimated £23 million, are required for a temporary period only.