§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; how many staff are expected to be employed in(a) Jobcentre Plus, (b) the Pension Service and (c) each of the other bodies that are replacing the Benefits Agency, once they are fully introduced; and if he will make a statement on how the overall reduction in staff will be managed. [78332]
§ Malcolm WicksInformation on the numbers of staff in the Benefits Agency at the latest available point, 31 March 2002 is in the following table. Also included are figures for the Employment Service.
Position as at 31 March 2002 Number Benefits Agency 66,726 The Employment Service 32,881 Note:
The figures are whole time equivalents
198WJobcentre plus and the pension service expect their roll out to be complete by 2005–06 but individual businesses are still developing their staffing plans for the next three years.
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions as at 1st October how many people received benefits and pensions, from his Department paid in cash at Post Offices; and how many of these, at date of commencement or other point prior to 1 October, have been offered the opportunity to have their benefits or pension paid directly into a bank account. [77881]
§ Malcolm WicksApproximately 58 per cent. of claimants currently receive their benefit and pensions in cash at the Post Office and 42 per cent are paid direct into their bank or building society account.
As Automated Credit Transfer (ACT) became available for individual benefits at different times, it is not possible to say how many customers were offered the opportunity to have their benefits or pension paid directly into a bank or building society account at the time of making the claim.