HC Deb 25 June 1980 vol 987 cc218-9W
Mr. Iain Mills

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to ensure detailed function-by-function reporting of local authority employment figures to his Department.

Mr. King

The quarterly joint manpower watch returns include this information for local government as a whole. Most authorities, other than the non-metropolitan counties, have agreed voluntarily to provide their own breakdown for use within my Department, but not for publication. They prefer to make the information available themselves on request with such explanations as they consider necessary. I intend to require the publication of such information under the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land Bill currently before the House.