§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make provision for further industrial retraining facilities in the Brentford area in order to assist employees at Firestone, Ltd., Brentford, who are facing redundancy in February 1980.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is too early to say to what extent those affected by this redundancy will need retraining. However, a wide variety of training is available under the training opportunities scheme (TOPS) in the Commission's skillcentres and at colleges of further education within daily travelling distance of Brentford.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements are being made by his Department to help employees of Firestone Rubber Tyre, Great West Road, Brentford, following the company's announcement to close in February 1980
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the public employment and training services, that special approaches are being made to employers in the area to obtain as much information as possible about current and likely future vacancies which may be of interest to the redundant workers. Work is in hand sifting inquiries received from employers expressing interest in recruiting the workers involved. A mini job-centre will be opened on the company premises on 9 January 1980. This will provide a self-service vacancy display and MSC staff will be in attendance to interview workers, to provide information and advice about alternative employment and training opportunities, and to ensure that the full range of MSC services are made available.
Representatives of my own Department's redundancy payments office and the unemployment benefit service will also be on hand to advise and assist.
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§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals to assist employees at the Firestone factory in Brentford, who are facing redundancy in February 1980, to obtain alternative employment.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) which is responsible for the public employment and training services that agreement has been reached with Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co. Ltd., for the MSC to operate a mini jobcentre on the firm's premises with effect from 9 January next year. This is considered to be the earliest appropriate date in view of the preparatory work the MSC is required to do and the fact that the firm's premises will close on 21 December until 7 January.
The preparatory work the MSC has in hand includes special approaches to employers in the area to obtain as much information as possible about current and likely future vacancies which may be of interest to the Firestone workers and sifting inquiries received from employers who express an interest in recruiting workers becoming redundant.