§ 65. Mr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in the number of unfilled vacancies in each region of Great Britain during the last three months.
§ Mr. Dudley Smith:For Great Britain as a whole the increase in the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled was 29.6 per cent. Following are the corresponding figures for regions:
Changes between January and April, 1972 in the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled. Per cent. South East + 30.5 East Anglia + 31.8 South West + 42.8 West Midlands + 23.2 East Midlands + 29.0 Yorkshire and Humberside + 23.3 North West + 18.6 North + 39.0 Scotland + 29.3 Wales + 34.7 The table is based on changes in the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled which do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.
§ Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment vacancies have now been notified to the employment exchanges in the South Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency.
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§ Mr. Dudley Smith:The number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at 5th April in the area covered by the Luton, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard employment exchanges was 998 of which 634 were for men, 256 for women and 108 for boys and girls. The statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.
§ Mr. Frank Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now give further instructions to employment offices to encourage them to persuade those registered as unemployed to seek employment in vacancies registered on their books.
§ Mr. Dudley Smith:Our employment officers have explicit instructions to make continuing efforts to find suitable jobs for the unemployed. They know that it is not sufficient to confine their attention to vacancies notified, but that they must consider vacancies in all appropriate areas, and make special approaches to employers.