§ Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Social Security how many social security offices have been reduced to caller status as a result of the policy of amalgamation.
§ Mr. PentlandSince the inception of the Ministry of Social Security in August 1966, 50 local offices, all of which were former National Insurance offices, have become public enquiry offices, of which 29 are attended full time and 21 on one or more days during the week.
§ Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Social Security (1) how many social security offices are planned for amalgamation with other offices;
(2) if she will make a statement about future policy in relation to the amalgamation of social security offices.
§ Mr. PentlandAs my right hon. Friend said on 30th May in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes), it is planned to amalgamate the whole of the office networks of the former Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and of the former National Assistance Board. It is expected that the final single network will include some 750–800 offices providing full time facilities for people making either contributory or supplementary benefit claims and inquiries in person; and perhaps a further 350 public caller offices offering the same facilities part-time. But a full outline of my right hon. Friend's plans is to be found in her above quoted reply of 30th May.—[Vol. 765, c. 273–4.]
§ Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Social Security how many social security offices have been reduced to caller status in towns with a population of 55,000 or more.
§ Mr. PentlandSo far only one office, viz. Rugby, but it is expected that in the next few years the backroom work of offices in some other towns of similar size will also be transferred to neighbouring offices.
§ Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Social Security how much money it is estimated will be saved in the current 100W financial year as a result of amalgamations of social security offices.
§ Mr. PentlandIt is not practicable to isolate the overall financial savings resulting from amalgamations, which arise not only from the concentration of backroom work into larger units (which normally affords staff savings) but also from the integration of former National Insurance Offices with the area offices of the former National Assistance Board.