§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which were the two new posts at under-secretary level and above, the two new posts at assistant 605W secretary level and the one new post at senior principal level established between 1 April 1983 and 1 April 1984 and set out in table 3.12.12 of volume 2 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1985–86 to 1987–88".
§ Mr. Whitney:The increase shown at under-secretary level and above reflects the creation of two new posts. One is that of the director of the operational strategy for social security, leading a major development programme for the use of information technology in our operations; the second is that of the chief adjudication officer, who advises adjudication officers on the performance of their functions under the various legislative provisions of social security, supplementary benefit, child benefit and family income supplement.
At the assistant secretary and senior principal level the figures shown in the table mask higher numbers of changes, both additions and reductions, about which I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.