§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will give details showing to what extent the 40 offices opened in existing buildings in his Department which have been opened since 1st June, 1970, were for the purpose of dealing with the increased 221W number of unemployed since that date; and what was the total cost of these offices;
- (2) whether he will give details of the costs of the 104 offices of his Department which have been rehoused since June, 1970; to what extent these offices were to deal with the increased number of unemployed since that date; and what were the costs involved in the formal openings of each of these offices by Ministers;
- (3) whether he will give details snowing to what extent the 66 newly constructed offices of his Department which have been opened since 1st June, 1970, were for the purpose of dealing with the increased number of unemployed since that date; and what was the total cost of these 66 new offices.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithIn no case was the level of unemployment the sole reason for the opening of a new office. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that the information about costs could only be provided at a disproportionate cost to public funds. Five offices were formally opened by a Minister at an approximate cost of £65.