§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases have been dealt with by his Department's offices in Portsmouth in each of the past four years; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ennals:The table below indicates the number of claims to benefits, and callers, at local social security offices in Portsmouth in the four calendar years up to December, 1969. As my hon. Friend knows, this period saw the introduction of earnings-related short-term benefits, and the replacement of national assistance by supplementary benefits, but does not include the peak of activity during last winter's influenza epidemic when claims to sickness benefit at Portsmouth increased fourfold. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the warmly appreciative terms in which he has written to me about 565W the excellent work the staff of these offices have done during this very busy period.
CLAIMS TO BENEFITS AND PERSONAL CALLERS AT THE PORTSMOUTH SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES (1966–69) year Claims to short term contributory benefits* Claims to long terms contributory benefits† Claims to supplementary benefits Callers 1966 … 42,400 5,250 13,100 84,000 1967 … 41,700 4,900 19,200 93,800 1968 … 45,500 5,200 25,800 96,700 1969 … 42,800 4,900 29,900 98,600 *Short-term benefits include sickness benefit, injury benefit and maternity benefit. †Long-term benefits include retirement pension, widow's benefit and death grant.