§ 11. Mr. BANFIELDasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, under the scheme for grouping Employment Exchanges for the purpose of removing anomalies in connection with the discharge of temporary staffs, the exchange at Ebbw Vale has not been grouped with any other parent exchange, and that, as a consequence, junior staffs in neighbouring exchanges have been given greater opportunities of retention than senior staffs at Ebbw Vale; whether he is aware that the agreement made on the Whitley Council provided for grouping to take place having regard to local travelling facilities, and that certain of the staffs in the neighbouring exchanges actually reside at Ebbw Vale; and whether he is aware that the divisional arrangements to give effect to the agreement reached on the departmental Whitley Council in so far as they involve Ebbw Vale have not been the subject of any discussion with the staffs employed in that exchange, and that there is resentment at this particular arrangement; and whether he will give instructions that the position at this exchange in relation to the grouping system should be reviewed?
Mr. STANLEYThe general principles of these arrangements were agreed upon by the Ministry's Departmental Whitley Council and the local details in Wales were discussed with representatives of the staff associations recognised by the Department as representing exchange staffs. I was not previously aware of any complaint regarding Ebbw Vale, but in view of the hon. Member's question, the position there will be further discussed with these associations.