§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the 3 per cent. cut in the pay component of the 1979–80 cash limits and the freeze on recruitment will have on the staffing of (a) the disablement resettlement service, (b) the wage inspectorate and job centre staff, and (c) the unemployment benefit 229W office; and what effects he anticipates, respectively, as a consequence on getting more disabled people into jobs, dealing with substantial underpayment of statutory minimum wages in the law pay field and assisting the unemployed.
§ Mr. MayhewThe effect on staffing levels of the reduction of the pay element of the cash limits for 1979–80 and of the temporary halt on recruitment is still being considered, and it has not yet been decided how the reduction in starring resources should be attributed amongst the services for which the DE and MSC are responsible. It is therefore not yet possible to say to what extent the services mentioned may be affected. It has been decided, however, that the suspension of recruitment should be lifted in respect of the unemployment benefit service so that it can deal with claims by school leavers and by adult students registering during the summer vacation.