§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current establishment at each grade at the unemployment benefit offices at(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough; how many deal directly with interviewing of new claimants; and what representations he has received concerning the lack of staff to deal with claimants.
§ Mr. Nicholls[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1990, c. 59-60]: I regret that the information given in the table in my reply of 15 January was incorrect due to the omission of four executive officers from one column. The correct information is as follows:
A graded breakdown of the staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices is given at table 1.
New claimants are normally interviewed by an executive officer (new client adviser). In each of the Doncaster unemployment benefit offices four executive officers are directly involved with interviewing and counselling new claimants. In Mexborough unemployment benefit office three executive officers interview and counsel new clients.
Additionally in each office two clerical staff provide support services for the new client advisers, which includes making appointments for unemployed people to make their claims.
No formal representations have been made to local management about staffing levels in these offices.
Table 1 Graded breakdown of staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices—January 1990 Doncaster Doncaster Doncaster Mexborough 'A' 'B' 'C' Permanent HEO 1 1 1 1 EO 9 8 7 4 AO 25 25 26 17 AA 4 5 4 3 Messenger — 1 — — Casual AO — — — 1 AA — 2 1 — Total 39 42 39 26 Notes:
HEO =Higher Executive Officer
EO =Executive Officer
AO =Administrative Officer.
AA =Administrative Assistant.