HC Deb 04 December 1980 vol 995 c164W
Mr. O'Neill

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings have been made in money and staff as a result of the reduction of the service provided by offices of his Department offering caller facilities since 3 May 1979.

Mrs. Chalker

It is not possible to calculate the savings which will have resulted. As regards staff, the amount of savings will depend in each case on the ways in which future work returns reflect the total business transacted at the caller office and at the parent office. Savings of money in the form of accommodation costs, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, would also depend on a number of factors including the terms of any lease; whether the vacated premises can be relinquished or whether they are required for other Government purposes; and the extent to which reduced opening hours lead to lower heating and other running costs.

Mr. O'Neill

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many offices of his Department offering caller facilities to the public have either been closed or had their hours of opening reduced since 3 May 1979.

Mrs. Chalker

Three full-time and 24 part-time caller offices have been closed since that date; and 16 full-time offices have become part-time. Information is not available centrally about how many part-time offices have changed their hours of opening. Four full-time caller offices and one part-time office have been opened. There are at present 87 full-time and 194 part-time caller offices in Great Britain.