§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people were employed by his Department in the east midlands in 1979 and at the latest available date;
(2) how many people were employed in clerical positions by his Department in the east midlands in 1979 and at the latest available date.
§ Mr. MajorI assume that the hon. Member is referring to those offices which were in the Department's east midlands and east Anglia region and were transferred to the midland region on reorganisation in August 1982.
Information is not available in the precise form requested. The complement allocated to east midlands offices for April 1979 and the intended 1 July 1986 staff allocation are set out in the table. They reflect overall reductions in work load over the period mainly due to the introduction of housing benefit and statutory sick pay.
Total staff Number of clerical staff 1979 3,747 2,559 1986 3,814 2,319.5