§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the boundaries of social security regions prior to 1982 reconcile with those after 1982.
§ Mr. Peter LloydDuring the period August 1981 to April 1983, the number of social security regions was reduced from 12 to seven. This resulted from a departmental efficiency scrutiny published in July 1981.
Of the original 12 regions, only Scotland remained unchanged. The former Wales and south-west regions were combined, and the remainder were merged to form five new regions. Where possible the existing county, local authority, and other accepted boundaries were retained. Full details of the earlier regions and the areas which they served, and a map showing the current regional boundaries have been placed in the Library.