Professional and Executive Register (Hansard, 31 March 1969)

§ 15. Mr. Dudley Smith
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what plans she has for extending and improving the usefulness of her Department's Professional and Executive Register; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Fernyhough
Much has already been done to improve this service. Many of the premises used for it are being improved or replaced by new buildings. Extra staff has been provided; a better system of staff training is being introduced; and a central clearing house has been established to improve the circulation of particulars of vacancies and registrants between offices. In 1968, placings by the 40 offices operating the Register were over 10,000, compared with about 7,000 in 1964. Another office will shortly be opened, at Norwich. We intend to press on with further improvements.

§ Mr. Smith
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a growing number of redundant professional men whose only crime is that they are over 45? Should he not be doing more to try to counter this insidious trend?

§ Mr. Fernyhough
I am well aware of the problems faced by some of the over-45s, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that my Department will do all that it can to find them suitable positions. I hope that, when he presses me to do more than we are doing, he will recognise that it means an increase in the number of civil servants and an increase in Government expenditure and that he will try to convince some of his right hon. and hon. Friends that such increases are very desirable.

§ Mr. Milne
While I agree with my hon. Friend's remarks, may I ask whether he is aware that the difficulty experienced by the over 45s in obtaining jobs is still a major problem? Will he give close attention to it?

§ Mr. Fernyhough
The officials of my Ministry always seek to get employers to take into consideration ability and not age. If a man has the capacity, irrespective of his age, we believe that he should be given the job.

§ Mr. R. Carr
In relation to public expenditure, is the hon. Gentleman aware that employers are well accustomed to paying and willing to pay for good employment services? In order to get more resources here, would he consider making a charge for this service and, therefore, make it more professional and intensive?

§ Mr. Fernyhough
Speaking off the cuff, I do not think so. I believe that this should be a public service. If we want it to be an excellent service, we should not challenge what it costs. It is a service to the unemployed. They have a right to it. I hope that it will be maintained as a public service.