§ Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the administrative economies totalling £475,000 recently proposed to be made by his Department as part of the Government's economy measures.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe greater part of the economies totalling £475,000 for 1956–57 will be on staff reductions which are expected to result from a thorough review of organisation and procedures and standard of work and staffing throughout the Ministry, and from a reduction in the scale of certain services. By the careful choice of economy measures, the Ministry will secure that reductions in staff are reflected to the smallest possible extent in the service provided, and the quality of service to industry and the public will continue at a high standard.
44WIt is proposed to close the three appointments offices in London, Manchester and Glasgow at a date to be announced, and the employment exchanges will be developed for persons seeking or employers notifying vacancies of the types hitherto dealt with at the appointments offices. The scales of the service of the Technical and Scientific Register will be reduced. Other economies will result from the winding-up of the National Service Hostels Corporation, Limited, and I have informed the National Institute of House-workers, Limited, that subject to their existing commitments the Government grant will be discontinued. The revocation of the notification of vacancies order is resulting in a saving of posts. These economies do not affect the general Factory Inspectorate nor the services for the disabled.