§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will appoint liaison officers at each main employment exchange with special responsibilities to liaise with the probation service and to help find suitable work for ex-offenders and other socially disadvantaged applicants.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThere is a close liaison between the staff of employment exchanges and the probation service in the resettlement of ex-offenders. My right hon. Friend is considering whether the appointment of liaison officers would be likely to make co-operation more effective. A small number of experiments in providing a special service to socially disadvantaged people is planned as part of the current measures to improve the employment services.