Jobcentres (Hansard, 19 January 1988)

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy regarding the provision of jobcentre facilities via other agencies in communities not served by jobcentres; and will he list such agents.

§ Mr. Lee
My Department's policy is to provide jobcentre facilities for everybody who needs them. In some parts of the country, especially rural areas, a community may be served by a jobcentre which is some distance away. Very often in these circumstances, arrangements have been made to provide a service to the community through initiatives such as local displays of vacancies and information, the use of freefone, mobile jobcentres, and the payment of interview fares for all unemployed people who travel more than three miles to attend an interview at their jobcentre.
The employment service is also seeking to provide 606W jobclub services in such areas through agents normally chosen by competitive tender. Such agents include chambers of commerce, local education authorities and private training providers.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the jobcentres which have closed in Wales in each year since 1979, and those which have moved from their own premises to be administered by other agencies.

§ Mr. Lee
The following jobcentres have closed in Wales since 1979:
1980

Abergele¹

Burry Port¹

Rhos¹

1982

Pembroke Dock site office¹

1983

Bethesda

Llandovery

Swansea (Castle street merged with Swansea, Grove House jobcentre)

Cardiff (St. Mary street merged with Cardiff, The Friary jobcentre)

1985

Bridgend industrial estate (merged with Bridgend jobcentre)

¹Employment office offering service similar to those provided by jobcentres.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those agencies used by the Manpower Services Commission in Wales which offer on behalf of the Manpower Services Commission those services usually available at jobcentres; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Lee
The Manpower Services Commission ceased to have responsibility for jobcentres from 26 October 1987. From that date the employment service of the Department of Employment took control of the operations of the jobcentres as well as the unemployment benefit offices.
There are no agencies used by the employment service or the Manpower Services Commission in Wales which offer the full range of services usually available at jobcentres. There are currently 37 jobclubs in Wales which are operated by agents on a contract basis. Arrangements are being made for a list of these to be forwarded to the hon. Member separately. Jobclubs are also situated in jobcentres and operated by jobcentre staff. The employment service offers a wide range of services, of which jobclub is only one.