§ Mr. CrowtherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions have been given to reduce the length of new claims interviews in unemployment benefit offices as a result of staff shortages.
§ Mr. EggarAn average time of 40 minutes is allowed for each new claim interview. No national guidance has been issued advising that the interview length be shortened.
476WDuring the summer period some offices experienced peaks in the number of claims made and had to resort to a shorter interview followed up at a later date by a second interview.