§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the numbers and percentage of employment exchanges which have been recast as jobcentres; and if he will detail estimates for the next five years of his programme to convert the remainder of employment exchanges.
§ Mr. GoldingUp to and including 31st January 1977, a total of 279 jobcentres have been opened replacing 27.5 per cent. of the former network of employment 195W offices. Replacement, however, is not strictly on a one-for-one basis, as current network plans include the provision of additional smaller offices in certain large towns and nn conurbations. Present plans for the next five years are to provide new jobcentres at the rate of approximately 100 per annum, by which time the conversion and resiting programme should be virtually complete.