§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current backlog of claims for additional payments at each of the offices of his Department in the metropolitan borough of Tameside; what is the estimated time needed to clear them, given the present staffing levels; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThe metropolitan borough of Tameside is served by the Department's local offices at Ashton, Hyde 287W and Openshaw. The boundaries of the areas covered by these offices are not conterminous with those of the borough. On 13 June there were no cases at Ashton or Openshaw awaiting action on claims for single payments of supplementary benefit. At Hyde there were fewer than 10 cases. These will be cleared as soon as the claimants concerned provide further information to allow their claims to be determined.