HC Deb 29 July 1971 vol 822 c770
16. Mr. Booth

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will extend the system of occupational analysis to show the industries in which wholly unemployed persons registered for employment in labouring occupations last worked.

Mr. David Howell

No, Sir. To do so would be too expensive in relation to the use such information would be for placing purposes.

Mr. Booth

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the definition of "labouring occupation" is so wide that more than half of those registered as fully unemployed at the moment are covered by it? Does he further agree that it is necessary to have a more precise occupational analysis to determine what sort of training or what type of new industry is needed to reduce unemployment in the many areas of high unemployment?

Mr. Howell

I appreciate the hon. Member's concern. We believe that a detailed analysis of this kind is useful in the construction industry, but in many other industries there is a fair amount of movement of workers between industries, and our reckoning is that it would not be of special value in finding job opportunities.