§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters were received from, and written to, hon. Members by Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office in January.
§ Mr. PriorThe numbers are as follows:
Letters received during January 1982 by Northern Ireland Ministers from hon. Members, 237.
Replies sent during January 1982 to hon. Members by Northern Ireland Office Ministers, 225.
Londonderry Coleraine Limavady Males Females Males Females Males Females February 1977 3,912 1,177 1,165 495 797 295 1978 4,180 1,155 1,471 630 890 399 1979 4,144 1,199 1,518 751 960 376 1980 3,966 1,316 1,452 654 893 415 1981 6,330 2,001 2,349 897 1,517 531
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Girocheques for social security benefits are posted each week from the Crown buildings in (a) Londonderry, (b) Coleraine and (c) Limavady; how much is the annual bill for postage from each centre at the present time in respect of such payments from each office; and how many hours of staff time are expended each week on preparing and sending out these cheques.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information is as follows:
Average Annual first- Staff time number of class postal (hours a Girocheques a charges* week)* week £ Londonderry 5,810 46,800 280 Coleraine 2,018 16,200 100 Limavady 1,620 13,000 80 * Estimated.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present average weekly payment made to each person receiving (a) unemployment benefit and (b) supplementary benefit in Northern Ireland; and if he will distinguish the figures for (i) males and (ii) females.
§ Mr. John PattenThe average weekly payment of unemployment benefit at May 1981, the latest date for which figures are available, was as follows:
Males:
466W
- £27.59 including earnings related supplement (ERS)
- £24.99 excluding ERS