§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to assist those workers in Stoke-on-Trent who have lost their jobs in the last year to find alternative employment.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 17 June 1980, c. 421] : I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the employment and training services, that when it was notified of redundancies due to occur in Stoke-on-Trent during the past year every effort was made to make its services available to those concerned at the earliest opportunity. These services include information and advice on the alternative employment opportunities available ; the facilities for training and retraining and the grants and allowances that may be payable to those wishing to take up employment in other areas. No precise details are available of the numbers of workers in Stoke-on-Trent still seeking jobs, but many have obtained alternative employment. There are increasing problems, however, particularly for the unskilled and those seeking only part-time employment.
Redundant workers are eligible for the full range of courses available in the Stoke-on-Trent area under the training opportunities scheme. The MSC will shortly be mounting a publication campaign to 622W encourage employers in the area to advise the MSC of any vacancies in prospect.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what number of firms has closed down in the last year in Stoke-on-Trent ; and what was the comparable figure for the preceding year.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 17 June 1980, c. 421] : The number of establishments in Stoke-on-Trent whose intended closure has been notified to the Department of Employment under the redundency handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 during the last year and the preceeding year is as follows :
Establishments June 1979—May 1980 26 June 1978—May 1979 21 Employees June 1979—May 1980 1,994 June 1978—May 1979 1,739 Employers are not required to notify the Department when proposed closures do not take place.