§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants signed on each week of 1989 at(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough unemployment benefit offices; what delays there were in interviewing them; what requests have been received for additional staff; and what has been his response.
§ Mr. EggarInformation about the number of claimants who signed on at these offices each week during 1989 is not available.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current establishment at each grade at the unemployment benefit offices at(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough; how many deal directly with interviewing of new claimants; and what representations he has received concerning the lack of staff to deal with claimants.
§ Mr. NichollsA graded breakdown of the staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices is given in table 1.
New claimants are normally interviewed by an executive officer (new client adviser). In each of the Doncaster unemployment benefit offices four executive officers are directly involved with interviewing and counselling new claimants. In Mexborough unemployment benefit office three executive officers interview and counsel new clients.
Additionally in each office two clerical staff provide support services for the new client advisers, which includes making appointments for unemployed people to make their claims.
No formal representations have been made to local management about staffing levels in these offices.
launched as an executive agency in April 1990. It will establish a new network of offices, bringing together the full range of employment service activities in single locations wherever possible.
Plans are being developed for this new network and when decisions have been taken the hon. Member for the constituency concerned will be informed.