HC Deb 28 June 1984 vol 62 cc509-10W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in testing the proposals for the development of the employment service's jobcentre network put to the Manpower Services Commission at its meeting on 26 April.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At its meeting on 26 April 1984 the Manpower Services Commission unanimously endorsed a broad strategy for the development of the employment service. As a prelude to further consideration of the detail of the proposals, the commission instructed its employment division to test some aspects as a matter of urgency.

The Government endorse the Manpower Services Commission's decision to test these proposals in a full and proper way and tests are at present proceeding in offices in London and the south-west. It is regrettable, however, that the trade unions in the Manpower Services Commission have refused to co-operate with the test in the north-west, and have withdrawn staff from the three offices participating in the test in that region, thereby denying the commission the information it has requested.