§ Mr. Haseldineasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether employers applying for vouchers for Commonwealth citizens are asked to consider the possibility of filling their vacancies by engaging suitable persons available in the locality for employment before their applications are accepted.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThere is a waiting list for vouchers and employers do not normally apply for them if they can readily fill their vacancies by other means and it has not, hitherto, been thought necessary to make the issue of a voucher conditional upon there being no suitable local labour available. The Government have, however, decided, in the interests both of potential immigrants and of persons already living here, that this factor should in future be one of those taken into account when considering applications for vouchers. It will not mean that fewer vouchers will be available. Only that, as far as possible, they will be issued for vacancies which might otherwise remain unfilled.