§ Mr. Wickendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to alleviate the hardship to pensioners who receive their pensions by post, arising from delays resulting from an industrial dispute among computer staff in Newcastle.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the payment of some national insurance pensions by crossed order has been delayed by a combination of operational factors arising from a change to a new computer system at my Department's Newcastle central office, the effect of a recent overtime ban in the Civil Service and postal delays. The Department's staff are now working all out to correct the situation and I am glad to say that the position is rapidly returning to normal. I have asked to be informed regularly of the progress made to restore normal service. A pensioner who is in financial difficulty because of the delay should contact his local social security office.