§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about progress towards computerising the payment of unemployment benefit, indicating when he anticipates this will be in operation.
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§ Mr. Ennals:At the end of November 1978, the unemployment benefit work of 675 out of a total of 994 unemployment benefit offices had been transferred to the computer system. Under present planning, the transfer of the bulk of the balance of the offices scheduled for take-on by the computer system will be completed by the end of 1980. The take-on of a small number of offices will extend beyond that date because of accommodation and organisational difficulties.