§ Mr. Mageeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received the report of the study group set up in 1974 by the previous Secretaries of State for the Environment and Employment as a joint exercise with the London local authorities to investigate the manpower needs of London public services and likely future trends.
§ Mr. CroslandThe study group completed its work in July, and its report is now being circulated. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House, and sent to Government Departments, the Greater London Council and London boroughs, public sector employers and trade unions and staff associations, and to the Manpower Services Commission.
296WThe manpower situation in London has of course changed since the study group was set up. However, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment and I accept the view of the group that long-term problems of manning London's public services remains.
Many of the study's recommendations are addressed to individual employers in the public sector. My right hon. Friend and I will be looking closely at the report to see what can be done to anticipate the longer-term problem, against a time of fuller economic activity.