HC Deb 06 May 1976 vol 910 cc461-2W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) which local authorities, in receipt of special Government grants and employing extra officers to deal with the problems of unemployed young people, are below their approved establishment for normal careers staff; and what steps the Government are taking to ensure the special officers are not deflected from their special duties to make up deficiencies in a local careers service;

(2) if he will list in the Official Report the local authorities whose career services departments are being staffed below approved establishments, indicating those which are being kept below the local authorities own approved level, and those which are below central government recommended levels.

Mr. John Grant

Under the Employment and Training Act 1973, provision of the Careers Service is a mandatory function of local education authorities. Although advice is available from my Department's Careers Service Inspectorate, staffing is the responsibility of the authorities. The special Government specific grant for strengthening the service to deal with unemployment is subject to certain conditions designed to ensure that it is used for the purpose for which it is designed. The work of specialist careers officers appointed under this scheme is monitored regularly by my Department and there is provision for immediate termination of the grant if any authority is found not to be observing the conditions.