§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the total estimated savings to the employment services division of the Manpower Services Commission if the Rayner recommendations for jobcentre closures are implemented; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe report of the Rayner scrutiny team recommended total savings of the order of £10 million a year. Its recommendations included reviews of a number of jobcentres and employment offices in rural areas, which it estimated would result in savings of about £100,000 if 40 of the offices closed. If these proposals to close 13 offices are implemented in full, the annual savings are estimated to be £30,500. Further reviews will be undertaken during 1983–84.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the list of rural and small town jobcentres with low business volumes in the Rayner report; if he will publish the list of jobcentres which Rayner proposes should be closed or suffer a reduction in services; if he will publish the criteria upon which the closure proposals are based; to what extent the travelling problems of applicants have been considered consequent upon closure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer the hon. Member to the report of the Rayner scrutiny of the general employment service in Great Britain, a copy of which is in the Library. Annex 15 of that report lists 54 offices for review by the Manpower Services Commission. With the exception of the offices at Cumnock (listed in error), Lochgilphead and a temporary site office at Pembroke Dock (both closed in 1982), all the offices have been reviewed. As a result the commission proposes to close its offices at:
Berkhamstead Aspatria Crewkerne Dalton-in-Furness Gillingham (Dorset) Ramsbottom Dolgellau Ripley Glynneath Crieff Llandovery Haltwhistle Bethesda to reduce opening hours at:
Attleborough Penygroes Bungay Beaumaris Halesworth Amble Burnham-on-Crouch Prudhoe Ashburton Filey Dartmouth Eyemouth and reduce the level of service to self-service only at:
HorncastleEach review took into account population trends and known industrial developments, the extent to which the office is being used, its performance, staffing and costs, the distance to the nearest alternative office and the availability and cost of public transport. Public consultation about the proposals is now under way and ends on 31 March.In line with the recommendations of the scrutiny report a more comprehensive review of the network will be undertaken before the end of the 1983–84 financial year, taking account of the effects of voluntary registration.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, regarding the recent Rayner report and its proposals of jobcentre closures, he will list the local 324W consultations and consultations with local authorities and hon. Members he has had regarding communities which will lose their jobcentres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIn each case where the reviews of offices recommended in the Rayner scrutiny report have led to closure proposals, invitations to comment have been sent to the appropriate Members of Parliament, to the chief executives of county, district and other local authorities, to rural community councils, to major employers, to the commission's local advisory committees, and to other organisations and individuals. The Development Commission, the Association of District Councils and the standing conference of rural community councils have also been invited to comment, and there were national and local press releases.
§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 1 March, whether he will take steps to encourage all employers advertising vacancies to notify their local jobcentres as well as advertising in the press.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonEmployers must remain free to use whichever method of recruitment suits them best.
§ Mr. Peter Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes are being made to the staffing of jobcentres as a result of the introduction of voluntary registration.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAs a result of the introduction of voluntary registration the number of staff in the local offices of the Manpower Services Commission's employment service division is being reduced by 1,300 (13 per cent. of the total at April 1981).
In line with the recommendations of a recent Rayner scrutiny of the employment service there will be a further review of the staffing needs associated with voluntary registration in the autumn when the picture becomes clearer.