§ Mr. Steenasked the Paymaster General (1) if he will advise the Manpower Services Commission to consider granting the Bridge Agency at Dartington a new contract covering the South Hams area;
(2) if, in the light of representations he has now received, he will arrange for the Manpower Services Commission to grant a new contract to the Bridge Agency in Dartington;
(3) if he will make a statement on the employment implications of the decision of the Manpower Services Commission not to renew the contract of the Bridge Agency at Dartington; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe community programme agency operated in south Deven by Bridge CAP Ltd, which covers the South Hams and Dartington areas, is based at Totnes. The decision has been made by the Manpower Services Commission not to renew the present contract and after 3 April 1987, the management of the agency will be undertaken by Community Rural Aid Ltd, a well established national community programme agent with experience of operating community programme projects in rural areas.
It is anticipated that Community Rural Aid will be able to offer the existing employees the remainder of their period of employment under the programme. The management team based at Totnes will continue to function but under fresh direction from Community Rural Aid, who influence will be mainly directed to the agency's system of operational and financial control.