§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers worked from each social security office during(a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [55585]
§ Mr. McFallResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson, and I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Chris Thompson to Rev. Martin Smyth, dated 13 October 1998:
I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of officers employed in each social security office during the years 1995, 1996 and 1997.The total number of staff employed in each of our local social security offices and centralised benefit offices in the years 1995, 1996 and 1997 are shown on the attached table. The figures which include part-time and casual employees reflect the numbers of staff in post at 31 March for each of the years in question.I hope this information is helpful for your purposes.
914W
Staff figures for 1995, 1996 and 1997 Total Social security and central benefit offices 1995 1996 1997 Andersonstown 121 115 134 Antrim 75 74 85 Armagh 67 68 70 Ballymena 69 75 64 Ballymoney 53 52 44 Ballynahinch 30 26 25 Banbridge 47 43 35 Bangor 69 71 67 Carrickfergus 52 50 39 Coleraine 97 102 102 Cookstown 44 44 42 Corporation Street 162 168 175 Downpatrick 45 46 58 Dungannon 90 83 89 Enniskillen 95 97 82 Falls Road 122 124 80 Foyle 175 184 183 Holywood Road 110 114 101 Kilkeel 33 32 18 Knockbreda 88 91 80 Larne 59 58 48 Limavady 48 50 43 Lisburn 89 88 67 Lisnagelvin 58 54 53 Lurgan 74 72 53 Newcastle 36 38 37 Newry 124 127 126 Newtownabbey 76 79 64 Newtownards 68 68 63 Omagh 68 75 84 Portadown 55 51 60 Magherafelt 72 80 62 Shaftesbury Square 107 106 79 Shankill 71 75 53 Strabane 74 68 61 Castle Court 1,079 1,092 1,068 Castle Buildings Pensions 142 116 10 Commonwealth House Child Benefit Office 124 130 20 Windsor House Child Benefit and Pensions 0 0 259 Belfast Benefit Centre3 641 675 596 Total 4,709 4,761 4,449 1 Pensions Branch was relocated to Windsor House 2 Child Benefit Office was relocated to Windsor House 3 The Belfast Benefit Centre provides "back office" benefit processing services for several London offices of the Benefits Agency in Great Britain