§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many visiting officers were available to his Department and the Benefits Agency in each administrative region in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, together with the staff projections for the number of visiting officers that will be available in each region over the next three years.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its chief executive, Mr. Michael Bichard. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 25 November 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking, how many visiting officers were available to his Department and the Benefits Agency in each administrative region in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, together with the staff projections for the number of visiting officers that will be available in each region over the next three years.
Analysis of Visiting Staff Allocated by Regional & Area Directorates 1989 to 1994. Region 89-90 90-91 Areas 91-92 92-93 93-94 Midlands N/A 181.41 South 1 51.8 74.1 67.50 Wales & South West N/A 166.18 South 2 49.2 85.3 95.43 Scotland N/A 114.92 South 3 76.4 101.1 124.50 North West N/A 151.14 South 4 77.5 98.1 98.31 North East N/A 184.34 South 5 46 51.5 53.80 London North N/A 210.44 South 6 49.8 71.8 72.29 London South N/A 207.51 South 7 49.3 69.4 62.08 TOTAL N/A 1,215.9 TOTAL 400 551.3 573.91 WCE1 42.5 59.2 58.78 WCE2 44.1 61.5 63.99 WCE3 52.7 71.5 76.35 WCE4 52.3 63.6 64.17 WCE5 35 50.3 44.23 WCE6 40.8 59 58.17 WCE7 48.6 68.6 67.34 TOTAL 316 433.7 433.03 SNE1 51.6 64.6 67.27 SNE2 49.9 69 77.27 SNE3 46.5 58.7 61.92 SNE4 23.1 28.6 48.00 SNE5 30.7 44.8 33.91 SNE6 31.7 36.9 34.19 0.00 TOTAL 233.5 302.6 322.56 NATIONAL 1,215.9 NATIONAL 949.5 1,287.6 1,329.5 N.B. Area Directorates replaced the former regional organisations April 1991.
South=Southern Territorial Directorate.
WCE=Wales and Central England Territorial Directorate
SNE=Scotland and Northern England Territorial Directorate