§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many State retirement pensioners are still waiting for their pension books due to delays within his Department; and what is the position compared to a month ago.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Department's central office at Newcastle upon Tyne issues over half a million pension renewal order books each week for widows and retirement pensioners. These books are now being sent to post offices for collection by the pensioners some three weeks before the date on which the first order in the book is due to be cashed. This should allow adequate time for them to reach the post offices before pensioners need to cash them. Unfortunately, delay in the postal service in some areas is resulting in some pension books not reaching the post offices in time. Relatively few pensioners are believed to be affected but I regret that it is not possible to say how many. However, any pensioner experiencing difficulty in obtaining his order book should contact his local social security office. The Department is keeping in close touch with the post office in order to resolve the problem.
One month ago, Newcastle central office was issuing order books about two and a half weeks before the date on which the first order was due to be cashed but delay in the post was having a more widespread effect.
§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to clear the serious delay in the issue of pension payments books from Newcastle, such as a con- 740W stituent of the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North who has been waiting since March, and who is not unique.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) today. If the hon. Member will let me have details of the constituent to whom he refers, I shall have inquiries made about the difficulties in this case and then write to the hon. Member.