HC Deb 07 February 1966 vol 724 cc25-6
46. Mr. Freeson

asked the Minister of Labour what advice is being given to employers who are refused Class A work vouchers under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act as a result of the ceiling quota imposed under the terms of the White Paper on Immigration from the Commonwealth and who are unable to fill their vacancies from within the United Kingdom.

Mr. Thornton

Applications for Category A vouchers are not refused as a result of the limitation on the number that can be issued, but consideration of them is postponed and the employers concerned are advised accordingly.

Mr. Freeson

With respect, there is little difference between saying that an application has been refused and saying that the application has gone on the waiting list and will take about a year to be reached. Is not my hon. Friend aware that this is happening in some cases? What kind of advice is being given to employers, as asked in my Question?

Mr. Thornton

The advice that is given to employers is that there will be delay in dealing with their applications, and when the time comes for them to be considered the applications will be investigated.

47. Mr. Freeson

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications by United Kingdom employers for Class A work vouchers under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act have been refused since the introduction of the ceiling quota in the White Paper on Immigration from the Commonwealth; and what were the unfilled vacancies involved.

Mr. Thornton

Since the beginning of August last year about 1, 450 applications have been rejected after examination.

Mr. Freeson

Does not this bear out the point that I was trying to make in my previous supplementary question? Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the situation in which 1,000 applications have been made by employers to employ people whom they require but who are not able to fill those vacancies from applicants within the United Kingdom? Will he arrange for the question of this quota ceiling to be examined further? It prevents employers obtaining adequate staffs.

Mr. Thornton

The Government took the decision to limit the number of vouchers issued. I can give no undertaking that this decision will be reviewed in the near future. We must face the fact that in many sections of employment and in many parts of the country shortages of labour exist.