§ 3.4 p.m.
§ Lord Morris asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they are considering any national or EC legislation which would directly affect the search, selection and recruitment industry.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Lord Strathclyde)My Lords, the current Employment Bill will affect the recruitment industry. No other national legislation and no EC proposals directly relevant to the recruitment industry are under consideration by the Government at present.
Lord MorrisMy Lords, I should like to ask my noble friend the Minister a further question. In so doing I should declare an interest as I am president of the Association of Search and Selection Consultants. Can he say who Her Majesty's Government have consulted in the past upon such matters and who they intend to consult in the future?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, we consult a variety of organisations involved in the search, selection and recruitment industry. We shall continue to do so when it is required.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, before the Government give priority to the considerations raised in the noble Lord's Question, will the Minister please give some attention to the whole question of training in this country? Can he confirm that he has read the article that appears in today's edition of the Guardian which states that only 38 per cent. of the British labour force are properly trained as against 80 per cent. in France and that we are at the bottom of the training league?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I am not sure whether that issue has anything to do with the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Baroness SeearMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the percentage of workers trained under the Labour Government was even worse than the percentage trained under the Conservative Government?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, this Question is about employment agencies; it has nothing to do with training. That is another question, which I am keen to answer but I cannot do so at this moment.