§ Mr. Bob Dunnasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Dartford, he will publish in the Official Report the reasons why he accepted the advice of the Manpower Services Commission that Dartford be included within the area of London (South) Committee for Employment of Disabled People; and, in view of its close connection with the county of Kent, if he will take urgent steps to place Dartford within the arrangements he has made for that county.
§ Mr. WaddingtonMy decision to accept the MSC's advice regarding the boundaries of CEDPs was taken in the light of the recommendations of the report of the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Disabled People and the commission's responsibility for and experience in the operation of the public employment and training services. The need to work closely with MSC in the provision of services for disabled people is fundamental to the role of CEDP. In the case of Dartford these services are administered by the London (South) area office of MSC's employment services division and it is important, therefore, that the area boundaries should correspond with those of the CEDP. Dartford is, of course, already included within the boundaries of London (South) district manpower committee—DMC—which is responsible for advising the MSC on general manpower matters, and with which it will be necessary for the CEDP to develop close working relationships.