§ Mr. Patchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report, the staffing levels of his Department's offices in the Barnsley, East constituency over the years (a) 1981, (b) 1982, (c) 1983, (d) 1984 and (e) 1985 to date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorFollowing is the information for the staffing levels on 1 February for each year:
63WThe staff reductions reflect falls in work load mainly due to changes in procedure on contributory benefits, such as the introduction of statutory sick pay.
§ Mr. Patchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been paid in overtime payments in the local Department of Health and Social Security offices in the Barnsley, East constituency over the years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 to date; and if he will make a statement.
October 1981 to January 1982 £ 1982–83 £ 1983–84 £ 1984–85 £ 1985–86 £ Barnsley (East) ILO 7,710 34,296 12,097 87,468 64,471 Goldthorpe NIO 0 0 0 14,091 16,085 Wath on Dearne AO 2,792 23,396 6,912 54,501 31,504 Abbreviations: ILO—Integrated Local Office; NIO—National Insurance Office; AO—Area Office (dealing with supplementary benefit only).
These figures are based on 1984–85 average costs of overtime in the Department.
The increase in overtime from 1984–85 was due to the miners' strike and the industrial dispute at Newcastle central office.