§ 3. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the future of the Professional and Executive Register of the Department of Employment, with particular reference to improvements to its placing record.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAs part of the general review of my Department's employment and training services which my right hon. Friend is undertaking, consideration is being given to the possibilities of improving the Professional and Executive Register so as to increase the extent to which it is used by employers in recruiting staff at the appropriate levels.
§ Mr. JuddI thank the Minister for that reply, but, as white-collar unemployment is becoming an increasingly serious social problem, will he not agree that there is urgent need to improve the quality of this service and to give it higher priority in the work of his Department, especially taking into account the devoted work of some of his officers within the limitations put upon them?
§ Mr. SmithObviously, the growth of while-collar unemployment gives added urgency to the review. It is worth bearing in mind that nearly as many employed persons as unemployed are registered on the Register; the present figures are 46 per cent. employed and 54 per cent. unemployed. Many people are testing the market. But we are aware of the problems.