§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average delay time involved in exchanging national insurance cards; and what steps he is taking to improve the situation.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI have been asked to reply.
Under normal procedures there is no delay in the exchange of national insurance cards but the service was interrupted in June by industrial action in the Department of Health and Social Security local offices. This dispute has now been settled however and the service has returned to normal.