§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to reconcile the statistics of unemployment in the construction industry with the shortage of craftsmen; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 830, c.148–9.] Sample inquiries are being carried out to identify any problems of "mismatch" between unemployed craftsmen and unfilled demands. An inquiry in depth in selected areas about the labour supply position of certain craftsmen is being commissioned.
377WFor up-to-date information about current shortages we rely on employers in the industry to notify their precise needs to employment exchanges.