HC Deb 10 June 1986 vol 99 c151W
Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons, male and female, have staffed his Department's offices in Barnsley during the years 1979 to the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Major

Information for 1979 is no longer available. The staff in post figure for each of the two Barnsley offices at 1 April for each year 1980 to 1986 is as follows:

Barnsley (East) integrated local office
Year Male Female Total
1980 51 125 176
1981 44 123 167
1982 48 117 165
1983 44 99 143
1984 37 91 128
1985 32 103 135
1986 30 102.5 132.5
Barnsley (West) integrated local office
1980 34 90 124
1981 30 97 127
1982 26 92 118
1983 28 80 108
1984 26 73 99
1985 26 77 103
1986 30 77 107

The staff reductions reflect falls in work load mainly due to changes in procedure, such as the introduction of statutory sick pay, housing benefit and postal claim forms for supplementary benefit.