§ Mr. Martinasked the Paymaster General (1) what arrangements exist for managing the schemes funded by the community programme and operated by Scottish Gospel Outreach; what representatives of (a) the Manpower Services Commission and (b) Scottish Gospel Outreach are involved in each case; and if he will make a statement,
(2) what information he has as to how many officials of Scottish Gospel Outreach are employed on the community programme-supported projects operated by this organisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeScottish Gospel Outreach runs two community programme projects: Dennistoun lunch club and Helping Hands. Responsibility for managing both lies with Mr. John Morrison on behalf of Scottish Gospel Outreach, but the Helping Hands scheme is also within an established community programme agency, Poldrait community development. Staff of the Manpower Services Commission's north Glasgow community programme area office are responsible for monitoring the operation of the schemes. The Manpower Services Commission does not keep information on whether employees of those sponsoring schemes under the community programme hold official positions in other organisations.
26WA number of workers on the lunch club project have recently made allegations about the running of the projects. The MSC's area employment manager has invited Scottish Gospel Outreach to comment on these allegations and has asked the area manpower board to consider the matter. The area employment manager will take his decision on the future of the project when he has received the comments of Scottish Gospel Outreach and the advice of the AMB.