HC Deb 18 February 1985 vol 73 cc384-5W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people employed by local authorities on the administration of the rent and rate rebate scheme in June 1982 for (a) England and (b) Wales; and what are the numbers currently employed for the most recent figures available on the housing benefit scheme in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Mr. Whitney

Information on the number of people employed on the administration of the rent and rate rebate schemes in England and in Wales in June 1982 is not held centrally. It is estimated that about 7,800 people were employed on the administration of housing benefit in Great Britain in 1983–84, the latest date for which estimates are available. Separate estimates for England and for Wales are not available.

Manpower Costs
staff percentage £ million percentage
Health 4,909 5.7 90 7.3
Social Security 81,382 94.3 1,144 92.7
Total 86,291 100 1,234 100

The figures do not include class XI manpower or costs used to run special hospitals, youth treatment centres, artificial limb and appliance centres and some smaller units. In 1983–84 these were:

Manpower: 4,183 staff

Costs: £51.4 million