§ Mr. Bradleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what impact the cutting of the careers service in Leicestershire will have on the placing of school leavers in jobs, training or the youth opportunities programme.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI understand that the proposed reductions in the staffing of the Leicestershire careers service are not due to take effect until September 1980. It it too early to assess the impact of these reductions on the work of the Leicestershire careers service, but I shall be keeping myself informed about the situation.
§ Mr. Bradleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the careers service officers in Leicestershire regarding the decision of the county council to reduce the numbers of staff within the service by nearly half; what meetings have taken place between his officials and the county council; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. Jim LesterFive separate representations have been received from careers officers of the Leicestershire careers service and one from the East Midlands branch of the Institute of Careers Officers.
Officials from my Department's careers service branch met representatives of Leicestershire county council on 22 February to discuss the planned reductions in the county's careers service. Regarding the final part of the hon. 369W Member's question, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) on 8 February.—[Vol. 978, c. 360.]