Mr. Nichollsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are his plans for the future of jobcentres in Devon and, in particular, the jobcentre at Ashburton.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Government are committed to ensuring that a national jobcentre network is provided, in the most cost-effective way, in Devon as elsewhere. Resulting from the Rayner report on the general employment service, the Manpower Services Commission has proposed that the hours of opening at two of the 25 jobcentres and employment offices in Devon — Ashburton and Dartmouth — should be reduced. No changes were proposed at three other Devon offices included in the review. Local consultation on all the proposed changes has now been completed and the commission is expected to reach final decisions at its meeting on 28 July.