§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there has been a reduction of some 10,000 in the number of posts in offices of the Department of Health and Social Security since 1979; what particular grades of the Department of Health and Social Security staffing have been most affected by this reduction; and if he will list the numbers of officers who have been employed at the social security offices at Molineux house, Temple street, Wolverhampton, in each single year since 1979.
§ Mr. MajorStaff employed in local offices of the Department numbered 65,027 in April 1979 and 62,687.5 in November 1985. Total departmental figures were 98,369 and 92,849. The Government's policy regarding Civil Service manpower is to maintain a staffing level commensurate with work requirements. The reduction in DHSS local office numbers reflects reduced work loads resulting from, among other items, the introduction of housing benefit and statutory sick pay and the introduction of postal claims forms for certain groups of supplementary benefit claimants. The effect of this reduction on particular grades in local offices is shown in the table: 273W
Grade January 1981 November 1981 November 1982 November 1983 November 1984 November 1985 Principal 1 1 1 1 1 1.0 Senior Executive Officer 1 1 1 1 1 1.0 Higher Executive Officer 7 6 7 6 8 9.0 Local Officer I 41 41 43 47 49 50.0 Local Officer II 82 82 92 87 84 93.0 Clerical Assistant (including telephonist 28 33 27 24 27 26.5 Typist 4 4 4 4 4 4.0 Security Officer 2 2 2 2 2 2.0 Messenger 1 1 1 1 1 1.0 Total 167 171 178 173 177 187.5 Casually employed Clerical Assistant 0 2 2 0 6 2.0