§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning recommendation No. 62 of the report of the employment service division Rayner scrutiny on reductions in the service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 22 October 1982, c. 241]The area offices of the employment services division of the Manpower Services Commission are part of its management structure and have few direct dealings with the unemployed. The recent Rayner scrutiny of the Manpower Services Commission's general employment service recommended that the number of ESD area offices should be reduced from 14 to 9 in the interests of greater cost-effectiveness and closer co-ordination between the various services provided by the commission. This would involve the disappearance of the separate area office for Merseyside and the organisation of this level of the employment service's management on the same regional basis as the commission's other services. The commission has decided that the management structure should be reorganised accordingly, while ensuring that satisfactory arrangements are made to reflect the needs of particular labour markets such as Merseyside.
413WThe Liverpool city council has written to me urging retention of a separate area office for Merseyside and a number of right hon. and hon. Members and others have written in support of the council's views. Having considered the arguments, I am satisfied that the commission's decision is right, that it will not adversely affect the service provided for the unemployed and others on Merseyside, and that the new arrangements represent better value for money. I am replying accordingly to the council and others concerned.