§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average annual ratio of staff to claimants at benefit offices in Scotland in 1980 and in the latest year.
§ Dr. Boyson[pursuant to his reply, 15 June 1984, c. 593]: It is not possible to identify the numbers of claimants to each benefit from information held as some details relate solely to claims made. The number of staff allocated to Scotland for their local benefit offices in 1980–81 was 7,053 and in 1984–85 is 6,993.
It would in any case be misleading simply to compare the level of staffing with the number of claimants. It is the content of the work which establishes staffing levels and this may vary over time as procedures change. The complementing system is explained in a guide which is held in the Library.