§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the E6 and E13 postal districts served by the Plaistow office have not received pensions for up to five or more weeks due to non-receipt of pension books; and if he will make a statement concerning the visit of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe), to the office on 30 April.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is not available in the form requested, since local social security offices do not keep statistical records of delay in issuing instruments of payment. When this problem occurs, it is dealt with on an individual basis. The manager of the Plaistow office is aware of a number of cases of non-receipt of new order books in time for the next pay day.
I visited Newham district, which comprises the offices at Stratford, Plaistow and Canning Town, on 30 April. I saw the problems associated with accommodation in the district. The situation is being addressed urgently and a number of options are being pursued to improve the service to our customers.