§ Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to formulate recommendations arising from the Rayner report with regard to the operation of jobcentres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TebbitThe report, as part of Sir Derek Rayner's programme of scrutinies, on the general employment service, was presented to the chairman of the Manpower662W Services Commission and published at the beginning of June. The commission has now considered its recommendations in the light of comments received and has reported its conclusions to me.
The commission welcomes the report's general endorsement of the role of the public employment service, and accepts the broad approach of its recommendations for improving the efficiency and economy of the service. These include a reduction in the number of managerial and support staff above jobcentre level, savings on the present jobcentre network and the future modernisation programme, some regrading of jobcentre work, and some reduction in front line staff.
The commission proposes now to put in hand more detailed reviews of various matters identified in the report to provide a firm basis for future action. These include a review of the viability and cost effectiveness of a number of local offices, with due regard to the effect of individual closures on local communities. The commission has also indicated its willingness to co-operate in the recommended review of the present division of responsibility for young people between the employment service and the careers service.
The Government approve the general line of the commission's response, which indicates potential savings by 1 April 1984 of some £10 million a year—nearly 8 per cent. of current expenditure—and some 600 staff—including some 200 already planned. They welcome the proposed review of the local office network, subject to full account being taken in consultation with local interests of the need to maintain adequate geographical coverage and the particular problems of rural areas.
The Government will give further consideration to the proposal for a review of the respective responsibilities for young people of the employment service and the careers service.