§ Ms Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Slough in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change that represents;
(2) what was the percentage change in claims made to the Department of Health and Social Security offices in Slough between 1979 and 1985; and what was the percentage change in staff for the same period.
§ Mr. MajorThe table shows the number of claims to benefit received by the Department's office at Slough in 1980 — the earliest available figures— and 1985; the percentage changes and the staffing changes. There has been a large number of procedural changes in both contributory and supplementary benefits over this period and therefore the figures for claims and staffing levels are not directly comparable.
740W
1980 1985 Percertage change Sickness benefit 35,787 3,549 -90 Maternity benefit 3,183 2,241 -30 Injury benefit 1,314 — — Widows benefit 332 482 +45 Death grant 2,331 2,132 -9 Disablement benefit 134 *— — Retirement pension 3,939 3,823 -3 Supplementary benefit 12,533 16,994 +36 Staff: Contributory benefit 108 77 -29 Supplementary -29 benefit 113 +35 Total staff 192 190 -1 * Disablement benefit claims are now handled at a separate specialist benefit office.