§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants for unemployment benefit and social security benefit there currently are in Lambeth compared with June 1979; and what are the comparative numbers of staff to deal with those claimants for the two periods.
§ Dr. BoysonStatistics relating to the number of supplementary benefit claimants in the London borough of Lambeth are not available. The table gives the total numbers of people claiming supplementary benefit at the local offices serving the borough, and the numbers of staff allocated to deal with them. Figures of claimants and staff at unemployment benefit offices are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.
Office Allocated Staff Supplementary Benefit Claimants Allocated Staff Supplementary Benefit Claimants May 1979 May 1984 Balham 57 5,400 131 12,100 Battersea 101 8,500 126 13,400 Brixton 48 4,600 109 14,400 Camberwell 59 6,200 105 10,700 Crystal Palace 59 6,400 91 10,000 Kennington 60 5,900 91 9,600 Kennington Park 57 4,800 77 8,900 Streatham 48 4,900 76 8,300 The hon. Member will be aware that it is misleading to make simple comparison between claims and staff as the work on any claim depends on the procedures for dealing with it, which may vary over time.