§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will make a statement concerning the use of jobcentres to advertise vacancies in the armed forces; [13366]
(2) what guidelines have been issued to the managers and staff of jobcentres concerning the proposal to advertise recruitment to the armed forces in jobcentres; if he will place a copy of these guidelines in the Library; and if he will make a statement; [13367]
(3) what training has been given to the staff of jobcentres in relation to the recruitment needs of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [13393]
§ Mr. ForthResponsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mike Fogden to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 5 February 1996.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the use of Jobcentres in Armed Forces Recruitment.
Following the publication of the Defence Cost Study, "Front Line First" which proposed, amongst other things, the transfer of the initial stages of Forces recruitment to Jobcentres, the Ministry of Defence sought the help of the Employment Service in improving the cost-effectiveness of its recruitment into the three Services.
Six month recruiting trials were conducted in 1994/1995 in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Greenwich, Gloucester, Norwich and Swansea, of different ways in which Jobcentres could advise people about employment opportunities in the Forces and undertake the early stages of the recruitment process. The trials were completed successfully and although we will not be the sole source of recruits for the Forces, Jobcentres will in future play an important part.
Guidelines, outlining the new partnership arrangements were issued to my Jobcentres in November last year. These guidelines have recently been updated and are also in the process of being incorporated in our publication, the Guide to Job Broking, copies of which are available in the Library.
Briefing/training events were held for my Jobcentre people, in conjunction with Armed Forces Careers Office Project Managers', prior to the national implementation of these arrangements.
The Employment Service is keen to introduce jobseekers to all the options available to help them in their search for work and I believe that these new arrangements will both give unemployed people access to a wider range of opportunities and provide an effective service to the Armed Forces.
I hope this is helpful.