HC Deb 28 January 1980 vol 977 cc468-9W
Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants were employed by his Department on 1 May 1979; and what was the equivalent figure for 31 December.

Mr. Mayhew

The numbers of permanent staff in post in the DE group were as follows:

attended courses of training at the Enfield skillcentre for each of the years 1970 to 1979 inclusive and at what net cost to public funds in each of those years.

Mr. Jim Lester

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1980, c. 890–1]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this information is only partially available. The number of trainees that commenced and completed courses at Enfield skillcentre and its associated annexe for the years 1978 and 1979 is as follows:

Calendar year Started training Completed training
1978 830 492
1979 688 477

The gross cost for the year 1978–79 was approximately £2 million; the figure for net cost is not available.

Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what saving to public funds would be caused by the closing of the Enfield skillcentre.

Mr. Jim Lester

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1980, c. 890–1]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the saving to public funds if Enfield skillcentre and its associated annexe were closed would be approximately £1,800,000 a year in running costs A further £600,000 approximately would be realised by the sale of plant and equipment; and disposal of the freehold of the annexe premises and the lease of the main centre premises should produce income to be set against further public expenditure.

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