§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements there are for consulting consumers on the work and decisions of his Department.
§ Mr. CopeMy Department maintains close contact with its clients. In the course of evaluating departmental programmes and activities surveys are undertaken of scheme participants and, where relevant, their employers or other intermediaries. The employment service collects information about customer attitudes through a wide range of surveys and due account is taken of their findings in planning future developments. Our proposals for training and enterprise councils will pass responsibility to employer-led groups at a local level. Our measures for assisting small firms and encouraging enterprise reflect demand from the small business sector and the views of participants in departmental schemes and representative organisations. All our health and safety proposals are subject to extensive public consultation and are submitted by the tripartite Health and Safety Commission. My Department also has regular discussions with business and client groups at regional and area level.