§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit cases, over the past five years, have required further review, due to errors in the initial assessment.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently employed by his Department for the purposes of assessing benefit claims; and if he will express this as a percentage of the total employed by his Department.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe do not hold information in the precise form requested. A wide variety of benefit claims are assessed in the Department's local offices, our central offices at Newcastle and Blackpool and the transitional payment unit in Glasgow. On 1 May 1989, 71,454 staff (90 per cent. of the total departmental staff) were employed in these offices. As well as dealing with benefit claims these staff also handle general inquiries and other aspects of departmental business.