HC Deb 19 June 1990 vol 174 cc521-2W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will be making extra staffing available for social fund duties to improve the rate of unprocessed applications.

Mr. Scott

Compared with the year 1989–90, the share of the total staff resources allocated to social fund increased by 1,615 posts for the year 1990–91. These resources, available to local offices from April 1990, reflect the ongoing review of resource requirements carried out by

(2) if he will provide a statistical breakdown of the length of stay of residents in the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the last year for which figures are available;

(3) what was the total number of people who used the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the last full year for which figures are available;

(4) if he will list the agencies which have referred individuals to the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available, and the number of individuals referred to each agency.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The information requested is not available.

The resettlement agency does not collect detailed statistics of individual residents because resettlement unit residents, who by definition are a transient population, are often resentful of detailed questioning. When admitting people the aim is to provide warmth, shelter and food and to restrict questions and statistics to the absolute minimum.

Mr. Galbraith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of bed spaces available for use at the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The number of bed spaces available at Glasgow resettlement unit (Bishopbriggs) is 77.