§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff were employed by local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security in 1979; what was the ratio between the numbers of staff and claimants at that time; what are the similar figures for the last available date; and if he will break the figures down to give the information for each region.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 3 February 1982, c. 163–64.]: The number of staff employed in local offices of the Department in July 1979 and at the latest available date is as follows:
Region 1 July 1979 1 January 1982 Northern 4171 4075 Yorkshire and Humberside 5939 5818 East Midlands and East Anglia 5484 5600 London North 5556 5838 London South 6047 6560 London West 5541 5659 South Western 4398 4304 Wales 3929 3908 West Midlands 5842 5656 NW (Manchester) 4725 4515 Merseyside 4559 4322 Scotland 6961 7147 Total 63,152 63,401 The relation these numbers of staff bear to the numbers of claimants is not expressable as a ratio since, even if it were menaingful to disregard the effect of changes in policy and procedure, the numbers of people in receipt of contributory benefits is not maintained on a regional basis.
The right hon. Member may, however, find the following information helpful. The number of people receiving supplementary benefit in July 1979 and December 1981 was as follows:
Region July 1979 December 1981 Northern 201,702 266,642 Yorkshire and Humberside 287,678 385,865 East Midlands and East Anglia 260,740 341,065 London North 282,376 379,553 London South 313,409 391,050 London West 234,553 308,656 South Western 218,259 269,032 Wales 180,648 228,823 West Midlands 286,619 420,190 North West (Manchester) 214,456 285,939 Merseyside 224,735 291,530 Scotland 293,005 385,115 Total 2,998,180 3,953,460 The number of claims to sickness and invalidity benefits, industrial injuries benefits, retirement pensions, widows' benefits and maternity and death grants in the four weeks preceding the dates shown was as follows:
462W
Region 10 July 1979 22 December 1981 Northern 66,789 48,956 Yorkshire and Humberside 101,418 78,745 East Midlands and East Anglia 88,103 74,498 London North 79,166 70,304 London South 82,487 73,505 London West 75,947 65,635 South Western 56,441 49,165 Wales 64,395 46,735 West Midlands 82,977 63,961 North West (Manchester) 71,331 57,831 Merseyside 68,265 54,820 Scotland 111,846 91,650 Total 949,165 775,805