That this House strongly opposes the Employment Service's proposed closures of the job centres in Dronfield and Eckington in the North East Derbyshire constituency on the grounds that both unemployed and employed residents of Dronfield, the largest town in North East Derbyshire, as well as in Eckington and adjoining Killamarsh parishes which have a similar total population size, deserves an adequate range of employment and benefits services and that the proposed alternative facilities would impose a large and unfair proportionate cost in bus fares on job seekers who would have to travel longer distances and who can least afford it; believes that the closure of these job centres, the only two closures in the relevant Employment Services region, would undermine regeneration initiatives in the area; notes, in particular, that the Dronfield Employment Centre is under immediate threat of closure and that the lease on the building used by that centre can be extended; and urges the Employment Service to extend the lease whilst it conducts a meaningful consultation exercise with the job centre users and others into the impact of the proposed closures and to investigate potential alternative accommodation for the centres if this is felt to be necessary.

That this House strongly opposes the Employment Service's proposed closures of the job centres in Dronfield and Eckington in the North East Derbyshire constituency on the grounds that both unemployed and employed residents of Dronfield, the largest town in North East Derbyshire, as well as in Eckington and adjoining Killamarsh...

That this House is aware that in the financial year 1994-95 the Employment Service in London and the South East was overtaken by a mid-year budgetary crisis which saw, amongst other things, a ban on overtime and promotions, volunteers taking a reduction in hours or extended periods of unpaid leave over Christmas and from January to March, and the widespread sacking of casual staff, and that this has had a markedly adverse effect on the service offered to claimants which has resulted in offices across London facing the problems created by 5-10 per cent. below authorised staffing levels, lunchtime closures, reductions in client advisor services, including unfilled posts for disablement advisors, and a consequent rise in levels of sick leave, which are combining to produce an increase in waiting times for claimants; and calls upon the Department of Employment to take steps to remedy this position and ensure that nothing similar occurs in the current financial year.

That this House is aware that in the financial year 1994-95 the Employment Service in London and the South East was overtaken by a mid-year budgetary crisis which saw, amongst other things, a ban on overtime and promotions, volunteers taking a reduction in hours or extended periods of unpaid leave...

That this House congratulates Linda McKenzie and Julie Rawnsley of the Allerton Outreach Team on their remarkable success in obtaining jobs for local people and in assessing their training needs; notes that since 6th February the team has placed 51 of the area's unemployed people into paid work and 25 into training; further notes every unemployed person now costs the state ??9,000 a year on average in benefits and lost tax payments; is dismayed that the Allerton Outreach Team, which has brought jobs and hope to a most deprived local community now embarking upon a long-term regeneration scheme, will be forced to close within weeks unless modest permanent funding is arranged; and urges the Secretary of State for the Environment to take the necessary action to safeguard the most important work being undertaken by the Allerton Outreach Team.

That this House congratulates Linda McKenzie and Julie Rawnsley of the Allerton Outreach Team on their remarkable success in obtaining jobs for local people and in assessing their training needs; notes that since 6th February the team has placed 51 of the area's unemployed people into paid work and 25...

That this House deeply regrets the decline of manufacturing industry in Stockport over the last 12 years; believes this is a direct result of Conservative government policies and now calls on the Government to take immediate steps to help Stockport recreate its manufacturing base; notes the following firms have closed during that period: Standard Railway Wagon Co. Ltd, Bowaters Initial Textile Services, AAH Building Materials, Robert Jones & Co., Roscoe & Co. Ltd., Delta Enfield Cables, Schofields Dye Works, GKN Bredbury Steel, Reed International, John Needham & Sons Ltd., Blythe Burrell Colours, Richard Arkwright & Co. Ltd., Condenser Mill, R Gregg & Co., Coles Cranes Ltd., Viking Engineering, Europa House (CEGB), (total closure following privatisation) Cheshire Sterilised Milk, Systemakers, Thos. Preston & Co., Birkett & Bostock Ltd., Boltons Superheater & Pipe Works, Simmonds Upholstery, Thomas Storey & Co. Ltd., (foundry) Mitchells Tankers, Reddish Electronics (in receivership), Sykes & Co., P.H. Press, Cloister Press, Ellis Jones & Co Ltd., Kennedys Builders Merchants, Naylors Abrasives, McPhaill & Co Ltd., Cableform, Portwood Furniture Manufacturing Co., Revelese Furniture Manufacturing Co Ltd., Squirrel Horn, John Myers & Co.; notes the following companies have suffered major redundancies: Renold Chains, Simon Engineering, Simon Container Machinery Ltd., Adamson & Hatchett, Mirlees Blackstone, National Supply, Mullards, British Aerospace, Ferranti, Fairey Engineering, V & E Friedland, National Tyre VCo., and Midland Bank; further notes the Government's only response has been to close the Stockport jobcentre, Merseyway Precinct and Hazel Grove jobcentre; and commends the Stockport Express for drawing attention to such closure.

That this House deeply regrets the decline of manufacturing industry in Stockport over the last 12 years; believes this is a direct result of Conservative government policies and now calls on the Government to take immediate steps to help Stockport recreate its manufacturing base; notes the following firms have closed...

That this House notes with grave concern that, at a time when unemployment is increasing in the Northern Region of England, it is proposed to close benefit offices and job centres in Amble, East Boldon, Saltburn, Shildon and Yarm; notes that the loss of these facilities will penalise the unemployed in the Northern Region, who already face serious difficulties in obtaining full-time employment; and calls upon the Government to revise its decision and keep the offices open.

That this House notes with grave concern that, at a time when unemployment is increasing in the Northern Region of England, it is proposed to close benefit offices and job centres in Amble, East Boldon, Saltburn, Shildon and Yarm; notes that the loss of these facilities will penalise the unemployed...