§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to clothing workers for entry to this country in the year 1972 so far.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI have been asked to reply:
184 permits for workers in a variety of occupations in the clothing industry have been issued up to the end of November this year.
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria on which he decides applications for work permits for workers in the clothing industry.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI have been asked to reply.
The criteria are (a) that the employment of a foreign worker is reasonable and necessary; (b) that adequate efforts have been made to find suitable workers from the resident labour force; and (c) that the wages and other conditions of employment are not less favourable than those prevailing locally for similar work. Permits are not issued for foreign men to do semi-skilled or unskilled work in industry.