§ Mr. McMahonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits have been provided to foreign persons for periods of less than a year in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost, since statistics82W maintained by my Department distinguish only between approvals given for employment lasting 11 months or more and those given for shorter periods.
The number of approvals given for periods of less than 11 months in the years in question are as follows:
Number 1981 *6,983 1980 8,238 1979 8,598 * Provisional
These figures do not include approvals given under the training and work experience scheme, nor those granted to overseas students already in the United Kingdom to enable them to take up vacational or spare time employment.