§ Mr. CashTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the next steps initiative; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.
Mr. JacksonIn April 1990, we established the Employment Service as a next steps agency. The 451W Employment Service employs some 38,000 people and its aim is to give positive help to unemployed people through job placement services and other programmes, and by payments of benefits and allowances to those entitled to them. It is the second biggest agency to be set up under the next steps initiative.
There are no other candidates for agency status at present. However, we are currently considering the further application of next steps agency status to departmental functions.