HC Deb 17 July 1979 vol 970 cc1293-5
19. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what role he envisages for the Manpower Services Commission in the next five years.

Mr. Prior

When I met the Manpower Services Commissioners on 20 June I made it clear to them that I saw an important role for MSC in operating its important and continuing employment and training programmes.

Mr. Hooley

Does the Secretary of State agree that the training, retraining and redeployment of workers is of cardinal importance for our future prosperity and effectiveness as an industrial nation? Does he also agree that the Manpower Services Commission will function more effectively if it is allowed to concentrate its work in the specially built building in Sheffield, which was designed for that purpose, rather than its staff being scattered around odd premises in London?

Mr. Prior

The hon. Gentleman forgets that there must be some real incentives and differentials if skilled people are to follow a skill. It is no good training many people for skills if they then do unskilled jobs. A review of dispersal policy has been taking place. Recently I met the unions involved. I have been examining carefully and sympathetically the views of those unions. An announcement will be made shortly.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that he has sufficient control over the activities and expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission?

Mr. Prior

I do not think that I could ever he satisfied with that. However, I am very satisfied indeed with the work of the chairman of that Commission and of the Commissioners. There is always room for improvement in Government service and in organisations such as the MSC.

Mr. Varley

Does the Secretary of State recall that when he met the Society of Civil and Public Servants on 29 June to discuss MSC dispersal he said that he would press his Cabinet colleagues to complete the review quickly and that he would give it a decision before the end of July? Will he keep that promise?

Mr. Prior

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the Manpower Services Commission is performing the right role? Is he aware that while it is building jobcentres at vast expense in city centres, where the private sector could achieve the same purpose more effectively, it is reluctant to provide any form of employment service in isolated large housing estates such as that at Partington in my constituency, which it has totally ignored?

Mr. Prior

Nobody should consider that a Government body, or an extra-Government body, is working perfectly. I think that there is room for improvement and perhaps a different emphasis from the Commission.

Jobcentres always come under attack. In some respects that is justified. However, generally I believe that the Commission is carrying out its job efficiently. It is seeking to improve training, which is important, but it is not the whole answer.