§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total staff shortage in the investigation departments of her Department; and if she will show the figures on a regional basis.
Regions Complement Staff in Post Shortage Northern … … … … 33 30 3 Yorkshire and Humberside … … … … 33 30 3 East Midlands and East Anglia … … … … 31 28 3 London, North … … … … 30 27 3 London, South … … … … 38 34 4 London, West … … … … 34 23 11 South-Western … … … … 28 27 1 Wales … … … … 27 25 2 West Midlands … … … … 36 33 3 North-West (Manchester) … … … … 31 30 1 North-West (Merseyside) … … … … 33 20 13 Scotland … … … … 32 30 2 Total … … … … 386 337 49 Special investigators are all volunteers, and vacancies are regularly advertised throughout the Department. Recruitment is difficult in London, West Region and North-West (Merseyside).