§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are employed in offices dealing with social security benefits; and how this compares with the figure in June 1979.
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§ Mr. NewtonI take it that my hon. Friend is referring to staff employed in local offices of the Department. The latest available figure is for 1 July 1982, when staff employed in local offices to deal with social security benefits was 62,145. The corresponding figure for 1 June 1979 was 63,367.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that the more recent figures for persons unemployed who are in receipt of various categories of benefit referred to in his reply of 22 July to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North have not been placed in the Library, he will publish them in the Official Report.
§ Mr. NewtonCopies of the quarterly analysis of registered unemployed claimants for May 1982 were dispatched to the Libraries on 14 July, but may not have been received.
Additional copies have today been placed in the Libraries.
§ Mr. Porterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the level of benefit savings achieved in 1980–81 by his Department's measures against fraud and abuse has been maintained.
§ Mr. RossiYes, the level of savings has not only been maintained but improved. In the operational year 1981–82 total benefit savings of £217 million were achieved by 5,500 staff, compared with £171 million saved by 5,640 staff in 1980–81.