§ 2.55 p.m.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking with the Office of Manpower Economics in the light of the gross error for which that office was responsible in the supply of information to the Clegg Commission in connection with the question of teachers' salaries.
1257The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EMPLOYMENT (The Earl of Gowrie)My Lords, in accordance with the recommendation of Sir Alan Marre, whose report on the causes of the error is being placed in the Library, strong instructions have been issued to the Office of Manpower Economics staff to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities for checking factual material.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether it amounts to any more than saying to the Office of Manpower Economics, "Please do not do it again"? Is he aware that in local government the district auditor would hold personally responsible officials who committed errors costing even a small fraction of the amount involved by the error in this case?
The Earl of GOWRIEMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend about the seriousness of the error. On the other hand, setting up a report, publishing it and making strong recommendations is rather more than simply saying, "Do not do it again".