§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in view of the increased numbers of claimants, he will improve the staffing levels of his Department's office in Walsall; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will give the pėrcentage increase in numbers of those receiving supplementary benefit at his Department's offices in Walsall between May 1979 and September 1983, respectively.
§ Mr. NewtonAt August 1983, the latest month for which figures are available, supplementary benefit claims in action were 90 per cent. above May 1979 levels at the Walsall East and 82 per cent. at the Walsall West local office. The number of staff allocated to local offices is determined by the Department's local office complementing system—a guide to which is in the Library—which seeks to match staff to work load, taking account not only of the increased number of claims in action but also the effects of the introduction of statutory sick pay, housing benefit, and the supplementary benefit postal claim form, which have eased the work load in local offices.