§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for Employment why it was considered necessary to propose spending £200,000 on building a new office block in Norwich for one of the Employment Services Agency's jobcentres when there are other suitable and recent office blocks already available nearby; and what re- 70W consideration is now being given to this project.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency does not propose to finance the capital cost of building a jobcentre in Norwich and tenders have been invited for a building to lease. Three years' searching has failed to reveal any existing premises, for which planning permission could be obtained, which meet their requirements of a centrally sited shop unit with ground floor space for continuous self-service vacancy display. Discussions with the planning authority are continuing.