§ 8. Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies there are for skilled employment at the last convenient date nationally and for the Plymouth travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. Jim LesterOn 7 September the numbers of vacancies notified to the employment services and remaining unfilled in the craft and similar occupations group were 67,006 in Great Britain and 405 in Plymouth. That group does not necessarily include all skilled occupations. The figure for Plymouth is for a somewhat wider area than the travel-to-work area.
§ Miss FookesI recognise that it is easier to set out the problem than to solve it, but what action does the Minister propose to take to end the wicked waste of resources?
§ Mr. LesterMy hon. and attractive Friend has asked a pertinent question. We are looking carefully at the reasons why people are not prepared to move and why they do not take skilled jobs in areas where they are available.