§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet made any decision on the future of the occupational guidance unit in Manchester.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply 19 February 1980]: Following the request we have made to the Manpower Services Commission to achieve savings on staff and planned expenditure, the commission has decided that it is no longer able to justify an occupational guidance service separate from the advisory services in job centres. It has proposed that all occupational guidance units should be closed during 1980 and that the job centre advisory services be extended by improving the provision of occupational information to all its clients. It is, however, too early for me to say when the Manchester occupational guidance unit will be affected, or what alternative provision will be made.