§ Quota System—Hotel and Catering Industry
§ A quota system for the hotel and catering industry of 5,500 work permits will be introduced for 1972; this will be reduced to 3,500 in 1973. No decision has yet been taken about 1974. Details of how the quota will operate are today being given to the industry.
§ The quota is intended to give the industry time to recruit and train additional indigenous labour to meet its needs. This is primarily the responsibility of the industry itself; but the Government will provide all possible assistance. My Department is examining with the industry how the employment exchange staff, careers officers of the Youth Employment Service and careers teachers can be better informed about the industry and therefore in a better position to advise potential recruits about the opportunities it offers. Consideration is also being given to the possibility that further specialist sections should be set up in employment exchanges to assist recruitment.
§ Training facilities provided by the Government for the industry will also be improved. The syllabus of the food preparation course at the Government Training Centre at Letch-worth is being reviewed, and it is hoped not only to increase the capacity of the course, but to set up similar courses at other centres. It is also planned to introduce limited skill courses at Government training centres to train unemployed persons to become general kitchen hands or canteen assistants. Courses are also being planned in colleges of further education to introduce unemployed men and women and young persons to a wide range of limited skills in the industry. Further initiatives are being considered. These plans are part of the increasing emphasis being placed by my 202W Department on providing more training facilities for the unemployed and encouraging them to take advantage of these facilities.