§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of staff administering the social security programme per 100,000 claimants for each year from 1978–79 to 1989–90 consistent with the information given in table 14.28 of the current public expenditure White Paper.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding answer 5 March 1990]: The total number of staff administering the social security programme per 100,000 receiving benefits for the years 1979–80 to 1988–89 is in the table.
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Number 1979–80 384 1980–81 372 1981–82 353 1982–83 339 1983–84 325 1984–85 311 1985–86 316 1986–87 314 1987–88 326 1988–89 326 1989–90 1 1 Not available.
Figures for 1978–79 are not available for work on social security administration as a separate item.