§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the rise in the basic state pension rate at each uprating from 1979 up to and including July 1986 (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage increase above or below the retail price index increase during the same period.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to increase staff complements in his Department's offices in Glasgow to handle the growth in the number of benefit claims.
§ Mr. MajorI refer the hon. Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) on 7 March at column322, in which he announced a major improvement to DHSS manpower. Over 5,000 staff have been made available in addition to the normal complement. Glasgow's share of the increase is 250. A full complement review of staffing in social security local offices is currently being carried out and the results will form the basis of the 1987–88 complement.
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§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current average time for clearing (a) new claims for supplementary benefit, (b) claims for additional weekly supplementary benefits, (c) claims for single payments and (d) urgent needs claims for each of the Department of Health and Social Security ILOs of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Redcar and Eston.
Average clearance time for Middlesbrough ILO Eston ILO Redcar ILO Hartlepool ILO Stockton ILO New/repeat claims for supplementary benefit 2–14 days 1–9 days 4 days 2–14 days 5–7 days Claims for additional requirements Not known Not known Not known Not known Not known Claims for single payments Up to 13 weeks Up to 13 weeks 8½ weeks Up to 16 weeks Up to 13 weeks Claims for urgent needs payments Cleared on day of receipt Cleared on day of receipt Cleared on day of receipt Cleared on day of receipt Cleared on day of receipt
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many requests have been received, and how many such requests have been given favourable consideration under the discretionary power conferred upon the Secretary of State to exempt young people from the board and lodging time limits where exceptional hardship would otherwise be caused to the claimant or the claimant's partner under the Supplementary Benefits (Requirements) Regulations, Schedule 2A, paragraph 4 (m); and how many of the above figures relate to the Department of Health and Social Security ILOs of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Redcar and Eston.
§ Mr. MajorOne hundred and twenty-six requests have been received, of which 26 were successful. In respect of the individual offices mentioned by the hon. Member, four requests have been forwarded all from the local office in Middlesbrough. Of these, one was withdrawn as the claimant found rented accommodation and one was successful.