To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claim offices in Nottingham have been closed to the public at any time during the past year during official opening hours because they were becoming overcrowded or because staff were over-pressed; which offices closed; and for how many days.

No Nottingham offices have closed during the last year because they were becoming overcrowded or because staff were over-pressed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, for each of his Department's offices in the country, the number of hours in each month of the last year that they were closed during normal daily opening hours of 9 am to 5.30 pm.

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.