§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the cost of extending the days on which labour exchanges, jobcentres and youth employment offices were open, to include Saturdays.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply; 12 June 1981, c. 230]: The Manpower Services Commission which operates the public employment service informs me that the cost of opening jobcentres and employment offices on Saturday would depend on such factors as the extent of the service which they would be asked to provide, the number of hours for which the offices would be open and the staffing arrangements necessary to cover the extended hours. Allowing for variation in these factors, the cost would probably be in the range of £5 million to £15 million per annum.
The cost of opening careers offices, known formerly as youth employment offices, on Saturdays can be assessed only by individual local education authorities which are responsible for providing the service.