§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff in May 1979 were employed in each social security office, and how many are now in (a) west midlands offices, (b) the black country area of the west midlands and (c) the two Walsall offices; and if he will give in each case the percentage change.
§ Mr. MajorThe black country area of the West Midlands is covered by the Department's offices at Dudley. North and Dudley, South, Smethwick, Walsall, East and Walsall, West, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton, North and Wolverhampton, South.
The complement of social security offices in (a) the west midlands, (b) the black country area of the west midlands and (c) the two Walsall offices in May 1979 and July 1986, and the percentage changes are as follows:
1979 1986 Per cent. change West Midlands* 5,559 6,000 +1.9 Black Country 1,236 1,479 +19.7 Walsall offices 299 333 +11.4 * West midlands region was merged with part of east midland and East Anglia region in 1982 to form the present midland region. For the sake of consistency, the table shows, for 1986, the total complement for those offices which were formerly part of West Midland region. Staffing levels reflect the overall change in the work loads since 1979 brought about as a result of procedureal and legislative changes. Major examples of these changes are the introduction of statutory sick pay, Housing Benefit and postal claim forms for supplementary benefit.