§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether he will review staffing levels in local benefit offices; what steps he proposes to increase the staff available; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will review the criteria to determine the number of staff required to cope with the workload in local benefit offices; and what steps he proposes to take to relieve the build-up of work being undertaken by existing staff in local benefit offices.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe staffing of district offices is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the benefit offices staff wage bill has been paid in overtime payments for each of the last five years.
§ Miss WiddecombeIt is not possible to isolate from general Departmental salaries those costs in respect of staff employed in payment of benefits. 53W
The overall figures for staff salaries and overtime are as follows: Year Salaries £ million Overtime£ million Percentage 1986–87 690.5 21.4 3.1 1987–88 784.2 25.7 3.28 1988–89 838.8 17.4 2.07 1989–901 802.6 31.9 3.97 1990–911 894.9 45.9 5.13 1 1989–90 and 1990–91 show the costs for the Department of Social Security alone. Previous years' totals include costs for the Department of Health. It is not possible to separate the information in respect of what were then the component parts of the Department of Health and Social Security.