§ Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what guidance is given to jobcentres to
596W
Employees in Employment—June of each year thousands Manufacturing industries Percentage change since previous year Non manufacturing industries Percentage change since previous year 1. North West Region 1965 1252 n/a 1593 n/a 1966 1251 -0.1 1611 1.1 1967 1203 -3.8 1589 -1.4 1968 1199 -0.3 1569 -1.3 1969 1199 — 1556 -0.8 1970 1186 -1.1 1525 -2.0 1971 1155 n/a 1564 n/a 1972 1107 -4.2 1592 1.8 1973 1110 0.3 1643 3.2 1974 1083 -2.4 1619 -1.5 1975 1035 -4.4 1639 1.2 1976 999 -3.5 1639 — 1977 999 — 1647 0.5 1978 991 -0.8 1660 0.8 1979 971 -2.0 1705 2.7 1980 931 -4.1 1713 0.5 1981 810 -13.0 1656 -3.3 1982 744 -8.1 1627 -1.8 1983 694 -6.7 1608 -1.2 1984 669 -3.6 1620 0.7 1985 653 -2.4 1632 0.7 1986 626 -4.1 1636 0.2 1987 612 -2.2 1650 0.9 19871 607 — 1680 — 2. England 1965 7,354 n/a 12,121 n/a discourage age discrimination by employers; what evidence there is that employers abide by requests not to indulge in such discrimination; and what plans he has to ensure that employees are employed on the basis of ability rather than date of birth.
§ Mr. LeeJobcentre staff are instructed to encourage employers, where appropriate, to remove or broaden age limits attached to notified vacancies. If an employer insists on an age limit the vacancy will be accepted, but jobcentre staff may subsequently approach the employer on behalf of an otherwise eminently suitable jobseeker who is outside the stated limits. Information is not available on the number of employers who accede to these requests.
The Government will continue to point out to employers that it is not in their interests to impose unnecessary age restrictions when recruiting staff.