§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many specialist recruitment offices have been set up specifically geared to recruiting for the hotel and catering industry; where they are located; what co-operation they have received from employers in supplying information regarding vacancies; and what is their record of placement to date.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithIn addition to the long-established specialist offices in London, Glasgow and Liverpool we have now provided specialist hotel and catering sections in 20 offices throughout the country. These are located in Torquay, Truro, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Sheffield, Leeds, Harrogate, York, Great Yarmouth, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Swansea, Llandudno, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Manchester, Blackpool and Kendal.
We are in close touch with employers in the industry; co-operation has been good, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of vacancies notified and placings made. The latest figures available for the six months ending 7th March show 65,094 vacancies notified and 41,999 placings.