HC Deb 18 February 1970 vol 796 c139W
Mr. David Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will list the exchanges and give details of the computer hardware involved in the experimental use of electronic communications systems by her Department.

Mr. Dell

Equipment for punching information relating to unemployment benefit into paper tape and for its transmission by land-line is in use at the employment exchanges in Reading, and in the London area, at Bermondsey, Camberwell, Deptford, Stepney, Wembley and Willesden.

The equipment is used in conjunction with two I.C.L. 1900 series computers of the Department of Health and Social Security at Reading, on which benefits are calculated and payment cheques prepared.

By the end of the year about 20 more employment exchanges in the London area will be similarly equipped and operating in this system.