HC Deb 15 July 1981 vol 8 cc398-9W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring up to date the information given in the reply of 20 February, Official Report, c. 235–6, showing the numbers of unemployed and their child dependants.

Mrs. Chalker

The table below gives, for the family types shown, the estimated numbers of registered unemployed males receiving unemployment benefit and/or supplementary allowance at November-December 1980.

Average weekly number of new claims received Average number of staff dealing with claims
1980
Contributory benefits 494 58
Supplementary benefits 264 79
Total 758 137
1981*
Contributory benefits 426 53
Supplementary benefits 238 83
Total 664 136
* Part-year.

The numbers of staff reflect not only the handling of new claims, but the maintenance of benefits to existing claimants and other work ancillary to the assessment and payment of benefits.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the number of staff handling benefit claims at his Department's local office in Scunthorpe.

Mrs. Chalker

No. The number of staff is considered to be adequate to deal with present and foreseeable work loads. There is, however, a contingency manpower reserve that is available in the event of an unexpectedly large increase in benefit claims.