§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether Form L.E. 66, which is sent to the previous employer of an applicant at a Labour Exchange for particulars as to the applicant's character, etc., and subsequently submitted to a prospective employer, is used in every case of an applicant for employment; and whether, when the form has been filled up, the applicant has an opportunity of examining it?
Mr. BUXTONIt, is not the practice of the Labour Exchanges to take up references except with the express consent of applicants, or, in the case of a few occupations, in which it is the custom of the trade that this should be done. It is also done at the request of the Postal Authorities in. 1423W the case of applicants applying for temporary Christmas employment in the Post Office. Information given in answer to a request for a reference is regarded as strictly confidential, and is not communicated to the applicant concerned.