§ Mr. Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state what the figure for unfilled vacancies would have been in the last published unemployment statistics if all vacancies had been notified by employers to employment offices and job centres.
§ Mr. GoldingVacancies notified to job centres and employment offices are estimated to be about one third of all vacancies but it is not possible to make a precise estimate of total vacancies on a month to month basis.
§ Mr. Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will encourage all public bodies to notify every job vacancy to their local employment office or job centre.
§ Mr. GoldingI and my colleagues are convinced of the importance of the MSC's employment service being notified of as many vacancies possible from both the public and private sector. The greater the range and number of vacancies available through the public employment service the greater is the scope to help unemployed job seekers. In our contacts with public bodies therefore we take the opportunity to encourage them to use the services provided by the MSC.