§ 13. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that there is adequate communication between the Manpower Services Commission in Wales and local authorities in Wales in relation to the changeover from the job creation scheme to the special temporary employment programme.
§ Mr. Barry JonesYes. The Manpower Services Commission informs us that it wrote in December 1977 to job creation programme sponsors in Wales, including all local authorities, setting out the arrangements for the changeover and explaining how further information could be obtained.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the last meeting of the job creation team took place last week and as yet local authorities have not had the detailed information necessary for them to put forward proposals under the special temporary employment programme? This has led to a situation in which the budgets of local authorities have been completed with the provision of many of the details for the programme. Unless more money is forthcoming under the locally determined schemes, we shall miss out on job opportunities because of this lack of co-ordination.
§ Mr. JonesJob opportunities in that part of North Wales are very important indeed. I shall draw the hon. Gentleman's views to the attention of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment, indicating to him how important the hon. Member's constituency believes these applications to be.