§ Miss Wrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the Prime Minister's statement on Tuesday 16 February, Official Report, c. 142, that staffing levels are reviewed to bear a direct relation to increased loads placed on local offices, and his own replies to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth on 4 February that numbers of individuals on supplementary benefit at the Birmingham, Handsworth, office had risen from 12,796 on 20 February 1979 to 18,203 on 22 December 1981 whilst numbers of staff employed there had fallen from 244 on 1 January 1979 to 199 on 1 January 1982, he will immediately review the staffing level at the Birmingham, Handsworth, office.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total numbers of non-pensioner claimants and pensioner claimants receiving benefits from his Department in the borough of Walsall in May 1979 and at the latest available date; what is the percentage change in these two groups; and if he will also give the total staff employed at the two Walsall offices in May 1979 and now and the percentage change.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to the replies, 1 March 1982, c. 50–51]I refer the hon. Members to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr on 5 March 1982.—[Vol. 19, c.276–8.]