HC Deb 04 June 1985 vol 80 c140W
Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of the strike at the Newcastle social security centre of computer operators in 1984; if he will break down the cost into its component parts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

Our latest estimate of the cost of the strike in 1984–85 is £145 million made up as follows:

£ million
(a) Payments to the Post Office for operating
the emergency payment procedures 110
(b) Extra staff and overtime in this Department
and the Department of Employment 34
(c) Publicity, extra postage on payments etc 5
(d) Offset by savings on salaries of the strikers
and on postage of order books from
Newcastle 4