§ Mr. Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of staff employed and the number of claimants at his Department's office in Swindon in June 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.
§ Mr. NewtonI must emphasise to the hon. Member that the number of staff needed to do the work required in social security local offices is calculated and allocated on the basis of comprehensive and detailed statistical analyses and forecasts of the workload which cover a large number of factors, of which the number of claims expected at any particular time is only one.
It is misleading simply to compare numbers of claims with numbers of staff at any particular time. Workloads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time and as a result of legislative policy and procedural changes.
The information requested is as follows:
organisations a longer period than three weeks for comment on the manual of guidance for hospital staff dealing with National Health charges to overseas visitors.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. I am anxious that the final form of the manual should be issued in good time before the commencement of the new arrangements on 1 October 1982.