§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the appointment, under the Government's job creation scheme, at £2,600 per annum, of Mr. T. Dan Smith; how many other persons were offered this situation; and why preference was given to this man.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that Mr. T. Dan Smith was appointed as a development officer by the North-East Branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which is sponsoring a project under the job creation programme, to provide advice for ex-offenders in seeking employment and to liaise with, and compile a register of, employers willing to employ ex-offenders. The JCP grant of £5,337 for the project includes £2,841 for the wages of the development officer for a period of 52 weeks.
I understand that the vacancy was notified to the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service of the Employment Service Agency which was not able to submit any other suitably qualified applicant.