HC Deb 19 December 1980 vol 996 cc382-3W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sum has been spent on publicity and advertising by the Manpower Services Commission since May 1979.

Mr. Jim Lester: I

am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that since 1 April 1979 it has spent £7,809,297 on national and local publicity and advertising.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what change is to be made in the expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission following the Chancellor's statement of 24 November.

Mr. Jim Lester

In his statement of 24 November on economic policy my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an additional £245 million at 1980 survey prices was to be made available in 1981–82 for special employment measures. Some £144 million of this will be devoted to the special employment measures administered by the Manpower Services Commission, and in particular to the expansion of the youth opportunities programme. At the same time the MSC has been asked to find savings from its programmes amountings to £20 million in 1981–82, and £30 million in the following two years.

Details of changes in the MSC's expenditure are contained in the commission's corporate plan for 1981–85, which the commission considered on 16 December.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sum has been spent by the Manpower Services Commission on advertising for, and recruitment of, staff since May 1979.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that since 1 April 1979 the commission has spent £267,657 on recruitment advertising and staff recruitment.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what auditing procedure he adopts for the examination of expenditure of public funds incurred by the Manpower Services Commission.

Mr. Prior

The chairman of the MSC is himself an accounting officer and is responsible as such for the expenditure of public funds incurred by the commission. He has internal audit arrangements designed to ensure that the conditions of the grant in aid voted by Parliament to the Commission are duly observed. Close liaison is maintained between finance officials in my Department and the commission to the same end.