HC Deb 01 May 1984 vol 59 cc180-1
9. Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the role of the Manpower Services Commission's area manpower boards; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The role of the Manpower Services Commission's area manpower boards is to advise the commission on the planning and delivery of its programmes at local level. Responsibility for decisions on these programmes rests with the commission and its staff.

Mr. Sims

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that explanation. Is it true that recently the chairman of the commission overruled the Liverpool area manpower board? If so, why?

Mr. Morrison

As for the proposals that were put forward relating to the mode B1 provision of the youth training scheme, the Liverpool area manpower board was unable to reconcile itself with that proposition and, as a result, the chairman of the commission, particularly wearing his mantle as the accounting officer, saw fit to overrule, in my view, rightly.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Have not the area boards been placed in an utterly invidious role in being required to select where the cuts should take place in community programmes, so having to distinguish between schemes in areas such as Cumbria? May we have an assurance that the Secretary of State is exerting every pressure on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure an increase in community places in the next financial year?

Mr. Morrison

As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, in the first year of the community programme Cumbria had more than the average share. I believe that that was right, and the hon. Gentleman and I have discussed the matter. It is right that the area manpower boards, with their local knowledge, should advise the commission on where they believe programmes should be instituted or, indeed, curtailed.

Mr. Batiste

Will my hon. Friend confirm that there has been considerable concern at the way in which some area manpower boards have been exercising their judgment in relation to individual mode B1 schemes under the youth training scheme? What general criteria does he expect them to employ in making judgments on schemes?

Mr. Morrison

The important point for the manpower boards when judging what schemes are appropriate is to take into account the local needs of the youngsters concerned, having consulted the careers service. By and large—and I use that phrase advisedly—that is what they have been doing, and I am grateful for the work that they have done.

Mr. Dubs

Is the Minister aware that the London, south and west area manpower board of the MSC recently came out in Wandsworth in complete opposition to the proposed cuts in the mode B1 places on the youth training scheme? Is he further aware that that view of the area board has been ignored by himself and by the chairman of the MSC, and that there is united opposition in Wandsworth, covering both the Conservative and Labour parties, against the ridiculous cuts that he is proposing? Why is he singling out Wandsworth and the disadvantaged young people there for these cuts?

Mr. Morrison

The hon. Gentleman will be aware —because he and some of his colleagues came to see me about the situation in Wandsworth—that the matter has been looked at very carefully indeed. He will also be aware that when the board came to its decision about London, south and west, it did not particularly single out Wandsworth; it was concerned with mode B1 provision in that part of London, and that is why the decision to overrule was taken.

Mr. Bill Walker

Is there any truth in the statement that the area manpower board on Tayside is unhappy with the role that it is being asked to undertake? If so, what does my hon. Friend propose to do about it?

Mr. Morrison

I assure my hon. Friend that the role of all the area manpower boards is being looked at carefully by us and them in the light of the future provision of training, whether at the youth or adult end. That is right, and how it should be.

Mr. John Smith

Were the area manpower boards consulted before the MSC announced its proposals to cut back drastically on jobcentres and on the personnel and resources allocated to them? If an area manpower board concluded that those proposals were bad for the employment service in its area, what notice would anybody take of it?

Mr. Morrison

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that in the management proposals relating to the jobcentre network there is no cutback. Indeed, there is provision for an increase of between 100 and 200 outlets. That is the precise situation. The MSC looked at the matter carefully last week and I hear that the Secretary of State will be getting a considered view from the commission, which I gather is a united view, including the TUC commissioners.