§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the fact that there are at least 2 million job vacancies throughout the United Kingdom as against the figure of 456,000 notified to his Department, what steps he proposes to take to inform himself of the actual figure.
§ Mr. ScottNone. Though there is uncertainty about the full total of vacancies I do not consider that the information234W would justify the very substantial expenditure and burden on employers needed to obtain it. It should be noted that, whilst although it has been estimated that some 25 per cent. of the flow of all vacancies are notified to my Department, it is probable that the proportion of vacancies outstanding—namely, the stock of vacancies—which have been so notified is higher than 25 per cent.