§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is taking steps to increase staff levels at his Department's offices in the Midlands; and if he will make a statement on the current dispute over this matter.
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§ Mr. NewtonThe Department's Midlands region (social security) is staffed to the level determined by the Departmental complementing system as necessary to handle the region's workload. The flexibility incorporated in the complementing system enables regional controllers to allocate extra staff to certain offices which are subject to special pressures and many Birmingham offices have been allocated such staff. The dispute to which the hon. Member refers started in the Erdington office when in a particularly busy office staff sickness placed additional pressures on staff and where an offer of the temporary allocation of reserve trained staff to relieve work pressures was rejected by the trades unions involved. The dispute has now spread to five other offices in Birmingham. Whilst all six offices are closed to the public, significant numbers of staff are still working in each office and regular payments are being maintained. New claims and cases of hardship are being dealt with at three emergency centres in the city, which will be kept open for as long as is necessary. In the meantime, intensive talks are taking place in an attempt to resolve the dispute. Two deputations of right hon. and hon. Members from Birmingham have been received by Ministers.