HC Deb 17 July 1979 vol 970 c1278
3. Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies for skilled men are currently notified to the Ponders End jobcentre.

Mr. Jim Lester

The precise information is not available, but on 8 June there were 238 notified vacancies in the craft and similar occupations group remaining unfilled at the Enfield employment office, which serves the Ponders End area. That group does not necessarily include all skilled occupations.

Mr. Eggar

Is my hon. Friend aware that as a direct result of the previous Government's policies, which caused high taxation and a narrowing of wage differentials, there is a severe shortage of skilled workers in my constituency? Is he further aware that there is a great deal of support among skilled workers for the Government's trade union reforms?

Mr. Lester

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks. It is true, and the fact has been supported by many speeches from Labour Members, that the previous Administration's tax policies forced many skilled workers to take unskilled work because those jobs provided better rewards.

Mr. Hooley

Is the Minister aware that the shortage of skilled workers has been an endemic problem for the past 10 or 15 years? In the light of that, is it not stupid to cut back on the work of the Manpower Services Commission and to hamper its sensible reorganisation, which involves moving the headquarters to Sheffield?

Mr. Lester

There has been a serious shortage of skilled workers for longer than the past 15 years and a great deal is being done to try to correct that mismatch. Part of that work is looking at and renewing our training methods which, clearly, are not satisfying the demand.