§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is proposing to assist those made redundant in the West Midlands to obtain alternative employment.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 30 October 1980, c. 323]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that every effort will be made to assist redundant workers in the West Midlands as elsewhere to find alternative employment. The full range of MSC services will be made available including information and advice about employment opportunities both locally and elsewhere, facilities for training and retraining and grants and allowances payable to those who wish to take up employment in other areas, depending on the numbers affected, the resources available and other local circumstances, the MSC endeavours to make special arrangements to provide help to those facing redundancy. The MSC will continue to encourage employers to notify vacancies to their local jobcentre and redundant workers are eligible to apply for the wide range of training and retraining courses provided in the West Midlands, under the MSC's training opportunities scheme (TOPS).