HC Deb 03 November 1986 vol 103 cc323-4W
Sir Peter Mills

asked the Paymaster General why so many frequent changes are made in civil servants working for the Manpower Services Commission in the south-west of England; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

The Manpower Services Commission has recently undergone a period of rapid growth as a result of new and expanded initiatives such as job clubs, restart and the job training scheme. The commission has had to arrange a considerable number of personnel moves in order to ensure that these important initiatives are adequately and properly staffed.

Sir Peter Mills

asked the Paymaster General why the Manpower Services Commission will not allow the various agencies in the south-west of England to have more freedom in their work and monitor the results.

Mr. Trippier

I understand my hon. Friend is referring to the schemes run under the community programme.

The revised controls for the community programme, introduced on 1 April 1986 as a result of a report by Coopers and Lybrand Management Consultants, include recommendations about the financial management of agencies. Prior to an agency being approved, Manpower Services Commission officials have to ensure that management controls are adequate, making recommendations as appropriate. The frequency and nature of monitoring undertaken depends upon the effectiveness of the controls operated by the agency management.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Paymaster General how many community employment programme and community programme managing agents or sponsors have been excluded from schemes in the following area manpower board areas: Birmingham/Solihull, Coventry/ Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/Walsall, Sheffield/ Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east.

Mr. Lee

This information is not available centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Paymaster General what was the annual expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission in each year since 1976 for the following area manpower boards; and what is the projected expenditure up to 1988; Birmingham/Solihull, Coventry/ Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/Walsall, Sheffield/ Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east.

Mr. Trippier

It is not possible to provide an answer to the historic and current parts of this question excep[...]t a disproportionate cost to the taxpayer. Details of projected expenditure in the areas covered by the specified area manpower boards in 1987–88 can not be ascertained until the total estimate provision for the Manpower Services Commission's grant-in-aid and for Department of Employment agency programmes delivered by the commission is settled for that year.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Paymaster General how much has been paid by the Manpower Services Commission's north-east London area manpower board to target training workshop YTS in the current financial year; and what was the forecast budget for target training in the current financial year.

Mr. Lee

The Manpower Services Commission has so far paid a total of £126,038 in grants to target training workshop YTS in the current financial year. The forecast budget for the workshop in the current financial year was £265,200 for grant aid, plus £12,650 for managing agent's fees and VAT.