§ 5. Mr. Duffyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many British workers were assisted in the second half of last year in taking up employment with West German firms as a result of vacancies circulated by employment exchanges in this country.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithOne hundred and six British workers are known to have accepted offers of employment made by German employers through the British and German employment services during the second half of 1971.
§ Mr. DuffyI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. I should like to ask, first, when he expects a reverse flow of these 106 workers; secondly, whether reciprocal arrangements exist between West Germany and this country for the movement of workers; and, thirdly, when he envisages a flow of German workers into Britain.
§ Mr. SmithThere are already signs of a slowing-up in the number of workers wishing to go to Germany, and there are indications of some who have gone wishing to come back. The numbers who have gone because they were unemployed are comparatively small as there are considerable language difficulties.
Regarding German workers who will come here, presumably under the Common Market arrangements when we become members of the E.E.C., it is impossible to give exact forecasts; but, as has been stated several times already, we do not anticipate that, certainly in the initial years, there will be much movement of labour between the countries.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I feel a certain difficulty today. Most of the Questions relate to unemployment. I think that it would therefore be better if I go through the Order Paper fairly quickly and not allow many supplementary questions.