asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the closing down of the local office of the Unemployment Assistance Board in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, and of the resulting hardship to those who have to apply to the board's office and particularly to old age pensioners who have to travel to Paisley, in many cases at great inconvenience; and whether he will reconsider the decision to close down this office?
My right hon. Friend is aware that in the interests of economy of 'staff, the Assistance Board have closed their office at Johnstone. As, however, old age pensioners are seldom required to visit an office of the Board, it is not thought that the closing will cause them inconvenience,. Under normal practice pensioners are visited at their own homes, and they are given post free forms on which they can request a visit by a Board's officer at any time if they wish to raise matters with which the Board is concerned.