Local Offices (Hansard, 6 March 1991)

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the level of funding of community care loans and grants at his Department's offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Scott
No representations have been received concerning either office. However, following a recent174W exercise to identify offices whose budgets were under severe pressure, an additional allocation of £30,000 for the loans budget at Greenock was made on 22 February.

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what change there has been in the numbers of claims and the time involved in(a) the assessment of a claim and (b) the notification of the assessment to the claimant in Greenock and Port Glasgow, following the installation of computer systems.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The installation of the computer systems in Greenock and Port Glasgow local offices to assess and pay claims for income support and retirement pension was completed in August 1990.
From the latest information available, in January 1991, Port Glasgow local office received 341 claims for income support which were cleared in an average of 0.7 days. Prior to computerisation, in May 1989, the office received 327 claims for income support which were processed in an average of 1.7 days. In January 1991, the office also received 21 claims for retirement pension which were dealt with in five days. In May 1989, 25 claims for retirement pension were received which were also cleared in five days.
In January 1991, Greenock local office received 850 claims for income support which were cleared in an average of 0.7 days. Prior to computerisation, in March 1990, the office received 626 claims for income support which were processed in an average of 1.3 days. In January 1991, the office received 113 claims for retirement pension which were dealt with in 9.7 days. In October 1989, 112 claims for retirement pension were received which were cleared in 19.4 days.
In general, the time taken to receive notification of entitlement depends on the type of payment. If payment is due within three days a girocheque is issued automatically by the computer system and sent by first-class post, with the entitlement notice enclosed. Alternatively, if payment is by order book, the book is issued to the Post Office by first-class post, and the pick-up notice, with entitlement information are sent second class direct to the recipient.

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the operations, or relocate workloads, from or to his Department's offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow; what plans he has to reduce staffing levels in these two offices; and if he will make a statement.

§ Miss Widdecombe
The management of the Department's local office network is being restructured because changes as a result of the operational strategy project and the setting up of the Contributions Agency meant that the existing offices no longer formed viable management units. This restructuring will result in a modest overall staff saving at managerial level, but there are no plans to reduce the number of offices open to the public. A voluntary redundancy scheme is in place for staff.
District managers will be responsible for drawing up detailed plans to provide the best possible service to local customers in the most effective way. These plans will be drawn up in consultation with interested parties, including constituency Members.