HC Deb 17 July 1974 vol 877 cc188-90W
Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what qualifications and experience are expected from applicants for posts with the SBC involving contact with claimants over the counter or in the field;

(2) what is the mean age of officers newly appointed by the SBC;

(3) what is the annual turnover of SBC officers;

(4) what promotion over what period is open to a Supplementary Benefits Corn-mission officer.

Mr. O'Malley

The Supplementary Benefits Commission does not itself employ staff. Its policies are carried out by the staff of my Department who are recruited and employed under normal Civil Service rules and given suitable training in their duties.

No separate statistics are kept relating to those of the Department's staff employed on supplementary benefits work and the information could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time.

Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members of the SBC and their principal qualification for appointment.

Mr. O'Malley

The present members of the Supplementary Benefits Commission are:

The Lord Collison, Chairman.

Formerly General Secretary, National Union of Agricultural Workers; Chairman and member of the TUC General Council; Chairman of the Social Insurance and Industrial Welfare Committee of the TUC; member of the National Insurance Advisory Committee; and member of the governing body of the ILO.

Professor D. V. Donnison, B.A., Hon. Litt. D., Deputy Chairman.

Director, Centre for Environmental Studies since 1969. Formerly Lecturer at Manchester and Toronto Universities; Reader, London School of Economics; and Professor of Social Administration, London School of Economics.

Mrs. C. M. Carmichael, MSc.

Lecturer, University of Glasgow since 1962. Formerly social worker, psychiatric social worker; and Deputy Director of Scottish Probation Training Course.

Mr. K. J. Griffin, O.B.E.

Formerly Area Secretary, ETU; District Secretary, Confederation of Shipbuilding Engineering Unions; and Secretary, Craftsmen Committee (Steel).

Grades Staff employed in Social Security local offices on 1st April 1974 National pay scales at 1st April 1974
Principal 203 £4,360 to £5,775 per annum
Senior Executive Officer 494 £3,756 to £4,542 per annum
Higher Executive Officer 1,785 £2,953 to £3,585 per annum
Executive Officer 12,939 £1,387 to £2,782 per annum
Clerical Officer 27,535 £827 to £1,883 per annum
Clerical Assistant 9,071 £14.05 to £28 per week
Superintendent of Typists 3 £1,792 to £2,194 per annum
Typing Grades 1,210 £13.75 to £36.17 per week
Radiographer 1 £1,329 to £1,659 per annum
Medical Board Assistant 12 £25.33 to £26.13 per week
Telephonist 38 £12.34 to £25.70 per week
Messengerial Grades 317 £24.25 to £26.70 per week

Mr. S. C. Hamburger, C.B.E., J.P.

Formerly member of Manchester Regional Hospital Board (present Chairman, North Western Regional Health Authority); and member and Alderman, Salford City Council. President of Manchester Jewish Homes for the Aged since 1965.

Professor D. C. Marsh, M.Comm.

Professor of Applied Social Science, University of Nottingham, since 1954. Formerly Lecturer, University College, Swansea; and Professor of Social Science, Victoria University College, Wellington, New Zealand.

Mrs. B. N. Rodgers, M.A.

Formerly Social Work Teacher and Tutor Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader in social work administration, Manchester University; Member of the National Assistance Board, 1965–1966.

Mr. M. R. F. Simson, O.B.E.

Formerly Assistant Secretary, National Federation of Housing Societies; Secretary of the National Corporation for the Care of Old People; member of the Ministry of Labour Committee on Employment of Older Men and Women; member of the Committee on Local Authority and Allied Personal Social Services (Seebohm Committee).

Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the grades and pay of officers employed by the SBC, the number at present in post in each grade and the number of vacancies.

Mr. O'Malley

Figures are not available in the form requested. It is not possible to identify separately staff of my Department employed solely on the work of the Supplementary Benefits Commission from those engaged on national insurance work. The figures available are in the table below which shows the total number of staff employed in social security local offices on 1st April 1974 and their rates of pay.