§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the recommendation of the recent Rayner scrutiny that there should be a review of relationships between the Employment and Careers Services; and what further Government support will be given to help the Careers Service discharge its role in the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. TebbitThe scrutiny team, under the direction of Sir Derek Rayner, which looked at the Manpower Services Commission's employment service recommended that there should be
an independent review of the responsibilities and requirements of the careers service and the employment service in the young person's sector".The Manpower Services Commission has stated its willingness to co-operate in such a review if the Government were to decide on one.
Priority over the next few months must be given to the launch of the youth training scheme. I therefore intend to reconsider the case for a review after the sceme has been brought fully into operation.
The Government intend to continue in 1983–84 their present directly-funded support for careers service staffing and to make available to the service micro-computers for their work concerning young people and the youth training scheme.
Following a proposal from the national consultative group on computers in the careers service, the Department of Employment, in consultation with the Scottish and Welsh Offices and with the Manpower Services Commission, will develop a standard programme for micro-computers by which the careers service will be able to maintain records of opportunities under the youth training scheme, likely candidates, their placement and progress under the scheme. The Government will make an additional £1 million available spread over the financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85 to local educational authorities in Great Britain which are prepared to make matching contributions to the cost of installing micro-computers in careers offices for this programme.