HC Deb 31 March 1969 vol 781 cc26-7
31. Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what plans she has to expand or develop the facilities services provided by the employment service of her Department.

Mr. Fernyhough

We have, for some years, been pursuing a programme of expansion and development of the Employment Service. Steps taken include the provision of better premises, more adequate staffing, better staff training, and a new area management system to improve co-operation between neighbouring offices; special arrangements for dealing with redundancies; the establishment of an occupational guidance service for adults; and improvements in the arrangements for circulating particulars of vacancies. We are also planning, over the next few years, to use computers for some of the unemployment benefit work and make benefit payments by post. This should help the exchanges to concentrate on employment work.

Mr. Judd

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is widespread respect for the achievements of his Department in these exchanges? Would not my hon. Friend agree that one of the defects from which they suffer is the old "dole" image? Can my hon. Friend say what action is being taken to overcome the difficulties of this image and to extend the scope of the agencies, particularly in relation to the professional services?

Mr. Fernyhough

I have already indicated what we are doing with regard to the latter part of my hon. Friend's question. I am glad to have his tribute to the work being done by the staff. I assure my hon. Friend that I want to get rid of the "dole" image as quickly as anybody possibly can. That is why I hope that when we come to the House for money to do this we shall find hon. Members very responsive.

Mr. R. Carr

Bearing in mind that the "dole" image to which the hon. Gentleman referred has led, among other things, to offices being located largely to a pattern reflecting unemployment of bygone years, will the hon. Gentleman at least consider the possibility that "placing" work in the future might be improved by having fewer offices in different locations?

Mr. Fernyhough

I readily accept what the right hon. Gentleman says in the first part of his supplementary question. He can take it from me that where new offices are being planned we take into account the necessity for their fitting in and being established in areas of general commercial interest. That is our policy. We should like to proceed with it much faster, but resources are the determining factor.