§ 57. Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Social Security how many local offices have been closed as part 5W of the Department's rationalisation programme.
§ Mrs. HartSince August, 1966 81 full-time local offices have been closed; 20 of these closures resulted from the amalgamation of former offices of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and of the National Assistance Board. Of the remainder 45 were replaced by public inquiry offices. In addition, three new offices were opened.