§ 17. Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the closure of the Amble office of the Employment Service.
Mr. JacksonSix representations have been made to my right hon. and learned Friend, to me and to the Employment Service chief executive about the closure of Amble. These include two representations made by the hon. Member on the subject. The remaining representations were made by the two local councils concerned. All representations were taken into account in deciding the future of the Employment Service office in Amble.
§ Mr. BeithDoes the Minister realise that Amble has consistently had one of the highest unemployment rates in Northumberland and that jobless people there deserve help on the spot, not miles away in Alnwick? Will he make it clear to the executive agency—the Employment Service—that levels of unemployment and levels of need ought to be a factor in the siting of offices?
Mr. JacksonObviously it is an important factor. In saying that, I speak as a Member who has had two closures in his constituency. I hope that the hon. Gentleman has visited the new integrated office at Alnwick. If he has, he will have seen what a superior service is being provided only nine miles from Amble where, at the last count, there were 377 unemployed people and the office was very small. We believe that we can provide a better service at Alnwick.