§ 55. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the current staffing levels of his Department on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonYes. As the hon. Member knows from the meeting with me which he attended recently, staffing levels in the Department's former Merseyside region have been set in conformity with the well-established system for matching social security manpower to social security work load. In coming months, because the reduced work load associated with the introduction of postal form B1, housing benefit and SSP will be accommodated gradually by natural wastage, staff in the region are likely to exceed considerably the number strictly required by the complementing system.