HC Deb 22 February 2000 vol 344 cc896-8W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each month since January 1998, the number of counter applicants at the Benefits Agency offices at Finsbury Park and Highgate; and what is the Agency's estimate of the adequacy of staff numbers to deal with them. [110487]

Angela Eagle

The administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 21 February 2000: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list, for each month since January 1998, the number of counter applicants at the Benefits Agency (BA) offices at Finsbury Park and Highgate; and what is the Agency's estimate of the adequacy of staff numbers to deal with them. The number of counter applicants at Finsbury Park and Highgate Branch Offices is shown in the attached tables. I am aware of the staffing position in both of these Branch Offices as well as the other Branch Offices in the Chilterns South district. I am satisfied that the current staffing levels are sufficient to meet BA service standards for customers who attend these offices. In addition, arrangements are in place to deal with any disruptions to services in the local office network. The estimate of staff required to deal with callers is termed as Highgate branch office complement, and is based on workload. It is detailed in the attached table. The actual staffing levels in the period are also included as "staff in post" figure.

I hope this is helpful.

Finsbury Park branch office counter applicants
Month 1998 1998 2000
January 5,426 5,273 5,556
February 5,131 4,929
March 5,376 6,038
April 5,377 5,384
May 4,463 4,775
June 5,317 5,835
July 5,947 5,692
August 4,730 5,686
September 5,514 6,363
October 5,410 5,620
November 5,045 6,264
December 3,841 5,022
Total 61,577 66,881
Highgate branch office counter applicants
Month 1998 1998 2000
January 4,698 4,280 5,300
February 4,620 4,225
March 4,668 5,363
April 4,666 4,608
May 4,402 4,126
June 4,880 5,066
July 5,090 5,029
August 4,335 5,154
September 4,955 5,655
October 4,565 5,097
November 4,635 5,231
December 4,193 4,420
Total 55,707 58,254
Finsbury Park branch office
Staff in post Complement
January 1998:
C3 — —
B3 6 4
A4 16 15
A1 2 1
Total 24 20
January 1999:
C3 1 1
B3 5 5
A4 16.8 17
A1 2 3
Total 24.8 26
January 2000:
C3 1 1
B3 8 6
A4 16.5 17
A1 2 2
Total 27.5 26
Highgate branch office
Staff in post Complement
January 1998:
C3 — —
B3 7 4
A4 20 15
A1 1 1
Total 28 20
January 1999:
C3 1 1
B3 7 5
A4 16 15
A1 1 1
Total 25 22
January 2000:
C3 1 1
B3 7 6
A4 16.8 17
A1 1.8 2
Total 26.6 26