§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs
278Wpersons are employed in temporary work in the various Government schemes.
§ Mr. Jim LesterSince the temporary employment subsidy closed for applications on 31 March 1979, there are no employers in the areas specified currently being supported. The other information requested is given in schedules below.
would be lost in consequence of the closure of the North West area office employment services division, Manpower Services Commission at Preston;
(2) what cost savings will be made consequent upon the closure of the North West area office employment services division, Manpower Services Commission, Preston;
(3) whether he intends to close the North West area, office employment service division, Manpower Services Commission at Preston; and, if so, when.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it has recently undertaken an internal study to establish the scope for economies in its employment service division area organisation. The study recommended that the North West area should be merged with ESDs Manchester and Merseyside areas and that the North West area office located at Preston should be closed. No decision on the merger and the closure of the area office has yet been taken by the commission.
If the recommendations of the study are implemented, a total of 8.5 posts would be saved and that number of staff released for duties in other parts of the MSC. It is estimated that, leaving aside non-recurring costs—for example, staff transfer expenses—the annual saving would be £88,000. In addition, a further annual saving of £23,000 would accrue 279W when the lease of the Preston area office premises was reassigned.