HC Deb 25 April 1984 vol 58 cc552-3W
Mr. Oakes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to close or reduce the services of the jobcentres in Runcorn and Widnes.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The Manpower Services Commission is considering proposals for the future development of the employment service. These proposals involve the reorganisation of the jobcentre network (with more jobcentre outlets overall) based upon the use of recent advances in technology to provide services which are designed to be more accessible to the public and better geared to local needs at a reduced cost. At this stage it is not possible to say exactly what these proposals would mean for particular parts of the country.

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the jobcentres in the Southend travel-to-work area giving in each case the numbers of staff currently working there.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The jobcentres in the Southend travel-to-work area and the staff currently working there are as follows:

Southend (26); Basildon (21); Canvey Island (2.5);

Grays (8); Rayleigh (9); Stanford-le-Hope (2.5);

Tilbury (2).