§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the extra allowances which will have to be given to his Department's claimants in the Thanet area to enable them to travel to their local Department of Health and Social Security office as a result of his Department's plans to reduce the number of Department of Health and Social Security officials who make home visits to claimants in 1978–79.
§ Mr. DeakinsIt is not possible to make such an estimate without further information that could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. There are standing instructions to local social security offices324W about the reimbursement of the cost of fares for journeys to the office beyond a reasonable walking distance.
§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the value of the national insurance Class 2 contributions which will be lost through non-compliance in the Thanet area as a result of his Department's decisions to cut back on the number of his Department's officials who investigate non-compliance matters in 1978–79.
§ Mr. OrmeThere will be some delay in collecting unpaid contributions from a minority of self-employed persons but it is expected that the loss to the National Insurance Fund will be minimal.