HC Deb 31 October 1979 vol 972 cc531-2W
Mr. Robert Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost of the proposed purchase by the Property Services Agency on behalf of his Department for use as jobcentres of shops with exclusive ground floor display fronting main shopping streets in the following neighbouring districts: Bayswater, Harrow Road N.9, Earls Court, Notting Hill Gate, Shepherds Bush, Harlesden, South Harrow, Hendon Central, Greenford, Cricklewood, Kingsbury, Ashford (Middlesex) and Southall.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission—MSC—that plans for establishing jobcentres in these districts have not yet reached a stage where the costs of acquiring premises can be estimated. The Property Services Agency, which acts on behalf of the MSC in such matters, is at present looking for suitable sites and until such sites have been identified it is impossible to assess the likely costs. If and when sites are found in these locations all projects will have stringent tests of cost effectiveness applied to them before any are authorised.

Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobcentres have been opened by the Manpower Services Commission since 3 May; at what total cost; and how many job placements have been made by such jobcentres.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 40 jobcentres have been opened since 3 May 1979 at a total cost of £1,867,373. This figure includes the cost of purchase of buildings or of lease premiums where appropriate, and the cost of any necessary adaptations to the premises.

The table below shows the number of new jobcentres opened and the placings achieved by them in the months May to October 1979.

Month Number of jobcentre openings Placings achieved by all jobcentres opened since 1 May 1979
May 1 27
June 8 728
July 7 1,129
August 7 2,131
September 10 3,103
October 7
Total 40 7,118

Notes:

1. As most of the new jobcentres opened after the start of the monthly statistical period, the placings figures include some achieved by employment offices which were replaced by the jobcentres.

2. Figures for October 1979 are not yet available.

Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobcentres the Manpower Services Commission expects to open between 31 October and 3 May 1980; and at what total estimated cost.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it expects to open 56 jobcentres between 31 October 1979 and 3 May 1980 at a total cost of about £3,043,000. This figure includes the cost of purchase of buildings or of lease premiums where appropriate, and the costs of any necessary adaptations to the premises.