asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total staff shortage in the investigation departments of her Department; and if she will show the figures on a regional basis.

Regions					Complement	Staff in Post	Shortage
Northern	…	…	…	…	33	30	3
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	…	…	33	30	3
East Midlands and East Anglia	…	…	…	…	31	28	3
London, North	…	…	…	…	30	27	3
London, South	…	…	…	…	38	34	4
London, West	…	…	…	…	34	23	11
South-Western	…	…	…	…	28	27	1
Wales	…	…	…	…	27	25	2
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	36	33	3
North-West (Manchester)	…	…	…	…	31	30	1
North-West (Merseyside)	…	…	…	…	33	20	13
Scotland	…	…	…	…	32	30	2
Total	…	…	…	…	386	337	49

Special investigators are all volunteers, and vacancies are regularly advertised throughout the Department. Recruitment is difficult in London, West Region and North-West (Merseyside).